John Rook – Rallycross Team – 2012
www.JOHNROOK-RX-TEAM.WEEBLY.COM
Press Release: 2012
Rook’s weekend turns into “Mayhem”
High Wycombe’s John Rook and his Spirit Health Clubs Rallycross Team had a tough weekend at Lydden Hill
Circuit on 26th/27th August for round 4 of the MSA Hot Hatch Championship.
The event ran under the banner of “Mayhem” a new actions sports event for the Uk and Europe. Rallycross was
the highlight of the event which also included some top competitors in FMX, BMX and Drift.
The event was split over 2 days with practice and 1st qualification heats on Sunday and the remaining heats and
finals on Monday. Sunday dawned bright and warm and practice went well, John quickly getting to grips with
his Citroen Saxo VTS Rallycross car. Heat 1 saw John start from the front row of the grid, he made a good start
and brought the car home 4th quickest out of the 7 car grid. With day 1 over the team set about checking over
the car ready for day 2 on Monday.
“The first day went well, there is a slight problem with the gear change which I hope we can get to the bottom
of before racing resumes on Monday morning”
Monday also began bright and warm and John took part in the morning warm up which was a good
opportunity to test the car before racing started. With the warm up finished this was when the tough weekend
started for John And his team. Heat 2 saw John line up on the 3 rd row of the grid and after making a great start,
John suddenly had a problem changing gear into one of the slower corners. This problem caused John to fall a
long way behind the other drivers and he spent the next 4 laps struggling with no gears and had to do the
remaining part of the race in 4th gear. John struggled to the end of the race only just having enough speed to
cross the finish line. Once back in the paddock John and his team found that the problem was caused by a
broken gearbox mount, which had dropped down and also snapped his driveshaft in half. Lucky to of been able
to finish the race John and his team set about fixing the problem ready for heat 3.
The problem was fixed just in time for John to make it to the grid for heat 3, but his race was cut short when
the fuel pump lost power meaning he didn’t finish the race. With qualification over and hopefully with all the
problems behind him John lined up 5th on the grid.
Lining up 5th on the grid, John made a good start going straight into the joker lap behind one of his fellow
competitors. The 5 lap race was the first time in 2 days the car worked without any problems, but John’s pace
just wasn’t there and he finished in 6th place.
Despite all the problems this 6th place finish has now put John in 3rd place in the championship with 2 rounds to
go. Next event is on October 7th at the Pembrey Circuit in South Wales.
The event is being covered by various TV channels including Motors TV and Channel 4, along with many
internet and press outlets.
Remaining 2012 British Rallycross Championship events:
R5 October 7th Pembrey, South Wales
R6 October 27th/28th Croft, County Durham (British Rallycross Grand Prix October 28th)
Anyone who would like to sponsor John’s 2012 BRC campaign are asked to get in touch on:
Jrrallyx726@yahoo.co.uk or call him on: 07581 467465