Doran set for Citroen debut at Lydden

Resident Columnists

Thursday, 11 March 2010 07:30

Liam Doran, runner-up in the 2009 British Rallycross Championship, will make his only scheduled appearance in the 2010 series when he drives in the opening round of the championship at Lydden over Easter weekend.

Doran, from Sittingbourne, is turning his attention to the European Rallycross Championship this year where he will drive a Citroën C4 for Swedish team Kenneth Hansen Motorsport. The team, Citroën's official Rallycross entry, is using the British event as a pre-season test outing for Doran who drove his C4 for the first time at the Autosport International show at the NEC in January. "Because the NEC event takes place inside a building you don't get a real feel for the car, so the event at Lydden is very important to me," said Doran, "Lydden is the perfect place for my first event in the car because I know the track, so it's just a question of getting the car to my liking and finding a setup that I'm happy with."

Citroën team boss Kenneth Hansen, the most successful Rallycross driver ever with 14 European championship titles to his credit, will be present at Lydden, but will not race in the event, concentrating instead on helping his new driver. Hansen finished third in the 2009 European championship, and won the British round of the ten-event championship at Lydden. The Swede has high hopes for the forthcoming season when his cars will use a new, more powerful engine.

Doran (22) has earned his place in the Citroën team after some outstanding performances during a short programme of events in last year's European Rallycross Championship, his best result coming with fourth place in the final round in the Czech Republic in September. Having not yet driven on all of the circuits used in the European championship, the 2010 season will be Doran's greatest challenge yet in Rallycross. The British round of the championship takes place at Lydden on Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend (May 29-31).

In addition to the first round of the Quaife MSA British Rallycross Championship, the Easter event at Lydden includes the second round of the Belgian Rallycross Championship. There will also be a full supporting programme, including the new Suzuki Swift Sport Cup series, Rx150 'buggies' and BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship. Track action start from 1230 on Sunday (April 4) and 0930 on Easter Monday (April 5). http://www.girlracer.co.uk

Quaife MSA British Rallycross Championship 2010
Monday April 4/5   Lydden Hill
Sunday April 25   Knockhill
Saturday June 12   Blyton
Sunday July 11   Maasmechelen (B)
Sunday August 8 Mallory Park
Monday August 30   Lydden Hill
Sunday September 12 Mallory Park
Sunday October 10   Pembrey
FIA European Rallycross Championship 2010
April 30-May 2 Portugal, Montalegre
May 07-09 France, Kerlabo-Cohiniac
May 29-31 Great Britain, Lydden Hill
June 04-06 Hungary, Nyirad
July 02-04 Sweden, Höljes
July 09-11 Finland, Kouvola
August 06-08 Belgium, Maasmechelen
August 13-15 Germany, Buxtehude
September 10-12 Poland, Slomczyn
September 17-19 Czech Republic, Sosnova