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Canterbury racer Tristan Ovenden fourth in British Rallycross Championship standings after rough rides at Pembrey

Canterbury’s Tristan Ovenden and his team were in the thick of the action at Pembrey during a British Rallycross double-header over the weekend.

Saturday saw the legendary Welsh circuit run in the anti-clockwise direction.

Canterbury's Tristan Ovenden struggled to stay away from contact at Pembrey. Picture: Matt Bristow Photography
Canterbury's Tristan Ovenden struggled to stay away from contact at Pembrey. Picture: Matt Bristow Photography

Ovenden got off to the best possible start and, after the first two heats, he was P1.

As is common in the top-flight of rallycross, things took a distinct turn for the worse in the semi-final, however, after multiple contacts. The race was stopped after only three laps and all drivers were awarded DNFs.

After the sustained damage, the Motul-backed driver managed to secure a second-row grid place for the final. But being down on power, he nursed his Citroen Supercar home in eighth.

Sunday saw the circuit run in the opposite direction.

After what can only be described as a herculean overnight team effort to straighten and patch up the car, staying out of trouble was paramount.

However, this wasn’t to be and contact in both qualifying heats saw him sitting sixth. He lined-up for his semi-final in third place and kept it for the entire race.

Yet again, he lined-up on the second row for the final and, despite his best efforts, he just couldn’t avoid the melee that unfolded in front of him at the first corner. But still with damage to the front of his car, he salvaged fourth.

He now sits fourth in the championship with two rounds remaining and, in the tightest championship contest for many years, a top-three championship finish is within his grasp.

But junior driver Will Ovenden, Tristan’s son, experienced the perfect weekend.

He notched up an unbelievable double win - despite racing a whole qualifying heat with his bonnet against the windscreen!

“Well, it was all going very well in [the] Supercar and then a couple of decisions beyond our control contributed to it becoming a very difficult weekend indeed,” Tristan said.

“We should still have done better on Saturday and fourth on Sunday was a relief. The team and their hard work on the car got us that result.

“Fortunately, Will in the juniors drove brilliantly - and [he] rewarded the team with a double win!”

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