Tony Lynch set for local outing in Aintree Sprint

Wigan racer Tony Lynch will enjoy a rare opportunity to compete on ‘home’ soil this weekend when he makes the short trip along the East Lancs Road to Liverpool to compete in the Aintree mid-summer sprint.

Tony will contest the event at the wheel of the Landsail Tyres Team Geriatric-run Toyota MR2 he has raced to the Retro Rallycross Championship title for the past two seasons, with the opportunity to take part coming due to a gap in the British Rallycross Championship calendar – which only resumes in October at Pembrey.

The Toyota will run in Class 3B for modified saloon cars over 1400cc and up to 2000cc, pitching Tony against more modern machinery including an MG ZR and and Honda Civic Type R, whilst more than 80 cars are expected to feature in the event in total.

Although better known as the home of the Grand National, Aintree played host to top level motorsport for a number of years after a race circuit was built within the racecourse in the 1950s – going on to host the British Grand Prix on five occasions.

Sir Stirling Moss secured his maiden win in the Formula One World Championship at the venue back in 1955, a victory which also made him the first home driver to take victory in the British Grand Prix.

Although the full circuit was used for the last time in the 1960s, the shorter club layout remains in use to this day, with the mid-summer sprint being the second of three organised by the Liverpool Motor Club each year.

As well as providing an opportunity to spend more time at the wheel of the Toyota, having missed the first two rounds of the season whilst recovering from surgery, this weekend’s event will also provide many of Tony’s fans and sponsors with the chance to cheer him on in person, with none of his rallycross outings being close to his North West base.

“With such a big gap in the Retro Rallycross calendar, this is a great opportunity to go out and have a bit of fun in the car and also keep myself sharp,” he said. “It will be something a bit different to usual and is a great way to support the Liverpool Motor Club for all the hard work they put in to keep the circuit operational as without their efforts, an ex-F1 venue could be lost forever.

“It’s also nice that an event like this will provide friends and family with the chance to come along and cheer us on in person, whilst many of our sponsors – including out title sponsors Landsail – are less than half an hour away from the circuit, so it’s a chance to compete on their doorstep.

“Hopefully we’ll have plenty of people there to support us and whilst its all a bit of fun, I’m sure that when the helmet goes on and I get out on track, I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to challenge for honours!”