Lynch extends points advantage with Blyton success

Wigan racer Tony Lynch has strengthened his advantage in the Autosport International BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship in partnership with Toyo Tires standings with a third victory of the season at Blyton.

Returning to the scene of his victory in the season opener, Westhoughton-based Tony and his Lucas Oil Team Geriatric squad were seeking to build on a strong start to the campaign that has yielded two wins in three rounds – and the early advantage in the Supermodified category.

As was the case at Pembrey during the second and third rounds of the year, Tony would spend the weekend doing battle with the rapid Vauxhall Nova of Patrick Ryan in the fight for top honours.

Whilst Ryan would emerge from the opening round of heats with the quickest time, Tony then reversed the finishing positions in the second round, with the pair then going head-to-head in the final heat of the weekend.

Holding the lead into turn one, Tony picked up a second victory to secure pole position for the all-important points scoring final.

Aware of the need to try and maintain his lead going into turn one, Tony made a strong start with Ryan attempting to go round the outside to get ahead. Contact between the two saw Ryan drop back, with Tony able to continue out front as he stormed to victory.

It means he extends his lead in the points ahead of the fifth and sixth rounds of the campaign at Pembrey next month.

“It’s great to have come away from the weekend with another victory but as at Pembrey, it wasn’t easy by any means,” Tony admitted. “The first two heats it was quite tricky as we weren’t running in the same races as Patrick, so it wasn’t until heat three when we had chance to see how we got on head-to-head.

“Going into the final, the plan was to stick to the inside going into turn one but Patrick saw a chance to try and go round the outside and we came together. It was one of those unfortunate things that happens but was nothing more than a racing incident, and I’m pretty sure I would have tried a similar move if I’d been in his position.

“What has become really clear in these last two rounds is what a strong competitor Patrick is, so we know we have to be on top of our game if we are going to come out on top at the end of the year. We need to keep pushing hard to maintain our current run of form and ensure we stay out front in the standings.”