There is little now that has not been said about Schanche, now in his 45th year, Mr Rallycross is still as brilliant, impulsive and flamboyant as ever. This year has again seen the Norwegian’s RS200E chasing Matti Alamaki in the European Championship but Martin took four victories and also managed to take a victory over the Finn in a round of the Finnish Championship in the summer.

Motoquip sponsored the event for the seventh consecutive year and all the previous winners of the event were there; Rolf Nilsson, Olle Arneson, Martin Schanche, John Welch and last year’s victor Mikael Nordstrom.

A massive crowd braved the chilly December weather to see Mikael Nordstrom leading the sixth Motaquip British Rallycross Grand Prix from the front row in a confident run with his Ford RS200E. After a fraught last lap, it was Will Gollop who came through to 2nd in his Metro 6R4, just pipping season-long rival Mark Rennison’s RS200. This annual event is gaining in popularity, perhaps bourne out by the appearance of Jonathan Palmer, running in John Welch’s Xtrac and finishing 1st in the ‘B’ final, a place in the ‘A’ final and ‘Driver of the Day’ award.