Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Ex-champ Ian Horn: This could be my last ever rallycross meeting


Ian Horn from Stokesley will be back on track at Croft this weekend - but says it could be his last ever rallycross meeting.


The former BRDA and BTRDA national title winner quit the sport in 1997 when his twins were born, but returned to action in 2003.


However his most recent rallycross was last winter’s BTRDA 75th Anniversary Meeting at Croft and now he’s says his comeback, 12 months on, could also be his last hurrah.


Horn will line up at the wheel of his Vauxhall Nova GTE in a Red 5 Motorsport production class which also includes Ingleby Barwick’s Martin Peters (Citroen Saxo).


He’s been kicking his heels for most of the year because championship regulations meant his car was too old for one series and too new for another.


Now he says he’ll use this Sunday’s meeting at his local track to see if he still has the desire to keep competing in rallycross.


“This could be my last rallycross event,” revealed Horn, “I’ve lost heart in it, to be honest.


“I know it’s part and parcel of the sport, but in my last event there were a lot of drivers bumping into me.


“The sport isn’t what it used to be and a lot of the young kids seem to struggle to get round the corner.


“I find I’m getting more satisfaction out of rallying these days so maybe I’ll concentrate on that in the future. I don’t know.


“I’m going to do this meeting and then see how I feel. It’s an opportunity to see if I still have an appetite for rallycross.


“There’s another BTRDA meeting at Blyton at the end of the month but whether I do it or not depends on how this weekend goes.


“I’ve got someone who wants to buy my car so if I do decide to give up rallycross, I’ve got someone to buy it.”


Horn won’t be lost to motorsport though and says, whatever his decision, he intends to compete in the two traditonal winter single venue rallies at Croft, the Christmas Stages and the Jack Frost Stages.


And with a change of regulations allowing him to track his car at British Championship level again next year, he says he’d be up for an assualt on the title should he decide to continue in the sport.


Sunday’s event also sees action from the supercar, supermodified, Mini, BMW Mini and autocross car classes.


Kevin Procter (Fiesta Mk 7) and Andy Grant (Focus) are expected to be at the head of the supercar field but Barnard Castle’s ‘Mad’ Mark Watson is also fired up for a tilt at the trophy in his comeback meeting at his home track.


Watson has spent almost a full year off track rebuilding his Citroen Xsara.


During that time he’s picked up sponsorship from Mend-A-Hose of Castleford which will enable him to compete in the British Championship, European Challenge and World Championship rounds in 2015.



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