Westhoughton-based racer Tony Lynch endured a frustrating weekend at Mallory Park after missing out on the chance to move into top spot in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship standings.
The Lucas Oil Team Geriatric driver headed into the latest round of the Monster Energy MSA British Rallycross Championship sitting just one point behind Johny Bean in the standings – and was well aware that finishing ahead of his rival would give Tony the chance to move back into the championship lead.
Things went well for Tony when a solid run in the three heats allowed him to secure a place on the front row of the grid for the A final, while Bean was forced to start on the final row having earned a slot in the main event with victory in the B final.
Tony’s hopes of a strong result to secure the lead were ended on the opening lap however, when he picked up a puncture that caused him to gradually lose speed and left him powerless to challenge his rivals on track.
Although a number of other drivers also suffered tyre issues, the fact that Tony was forced to complete almost the entire race with a punctured tyre meant that he finished at the back of the field while Bean was able to secure third and open up a slender lead in the standings ahead of the next round at Lydden Hill in late August.
“It’s no understatement to say that I was absolutely devastated at the end of the weekend at Mallory, as the final really was a missed opportunity for us to move into the lead,” Tony admitted. “We’d shown decent pace in the heats to secure a place on the front row of the grid for the final and had a real chance to get ahead of Johny after he had to qualify through the B final.
“When I picked up the puncture, I didn’t realise at first what the problem was and I thought there was an issue with the engine and also with the handling, as suddenly I started to slow and couldn’t keep anyone behind me. I don’t know where I got the puncture, but I wasn’t the only one; my problem was that I got a puncture before anyone else and it meant I ended the race right at the back.
“However, what happened, happened and there isn’t anything that we can do now to change it. We’ve had problems in the past and have come back from them, and that is exactly what we will do again this time. As far as I’m concerned, Mallory is in the past and I’m looking forward to giving it my all to get back to the top of the standings in the remaining rounds.”
