Pat Doran buys Lydden Lease

I was told at the Weekend that a consortium lead by Pat Doran has bought the lease for Lydden.

How do we think this will affect the sport?

Does this mean that rally-cross will venture north of the m25 even less now?

To be fair Phil, Lydden is the only rallycross circuit that's actually south of the M25. Pembrey is roughly level with the M25 I suppose, but everything else is pretty northerly for those of us in the South. Knockhill in particular is about ten hours for me, but Croft, Blyton, Anglessey and even Pembrey are all a long way too for a lot of us. So it's not quite fair to say that rallycross doesn't often venture north of the M25 - it's all a question of persepctive, eh?

But if the news is true (there are a lot of rumours in rallycross but this one seems fairly strong) it must be a good thing for rallycross, right? It would seem likely that, because quite a few supercar drivers are heading to Europe next year, this consortium would try to get a round of the ERC to Lydden - also, they are likely all to be businessmen and this would make business sense, I would have thought. It would be competition for RPL for a round of the ERC, which could improve the sport as a whole as each strives to be the best.

So long as both championships try to balance their round between north and south, this aquisition can only be only a good thing for the sport, surely?

There's a whole thread about the Lydden lease here:

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102049

General Lydden stuff can be added there but this thread is good for rallycross specific comments :)

This has to be great news for Rallycross.

Let's be honest, McLaren have not exactly been forward in developing it since they have owned it!

Lydden Hill is the home of the sport, it is probably the best viewing circuit we have and is also a great drivers track. More should have been made of this great venue a long time ago.

If Pat & Ollie are involved, make no mistake, it will be of benefit to Rallycross.

I think it is an exciting time for the sport at the moment and I am glad I have decided to start competing again.

Good luck to Pat & Ollie and I look forward to hearing their plans!

Stuart

Good luck to Pat and Ollie if they have the lease.

This has to be great news for Rallycross.

Yep and I suspect club motorsport in general.

Lydden Hill is the home of the sport, it is probably the best viewing circuit we have and is also a great drivers track. More should have been made of this great venue a long time ago.

There are many restrictions so unless this is a labour of love I'd expect upgraded facilities, tarmac in the paddock and that's about it.

If Pat & Ollie are involved, make no mistake, it will be of benefit to Rallycross.

I think it is an exciting time for the sport at the moment and I am glad I have decided to start competing again.

Good luck to Pat & Ollie and I look forward to hearing their plans!

Stuart

This is true. Very good news for the true home of rallycross. ;)

Brilliant news for the sport and also fair play to them both for having teh guts to have a crack at it.

At the end of the day it is a business decision too buy the lease for Lydden so things can only improve if it makes money, but rallycross orientated leaseholders maybe inclined to return an ERC round to its rightful home.:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydden_Race_Circuit

Updated just some minutes ago, according to "Rallycross World" issue 48 ("Doran in charge", by Tim DoubleU). ;)

Apropos: Good luck, "Plastic Paddy"!!!

Great to see two massive supporters of rallycross taking over the venue. Look like Amy will be running the circuit so I'm sure we'll see some decent advertising and promotional campaigns too.

There is a write up on Page 2 in the Motorsport News, tells us everything we need to know.
Good Luck to Pat and Amy

Good Luck to Pat and Amy

And Ollie!:)

And Ollie!:)


Ollie has no involvement with this venture. If Chris announced it at the London Excel I don't know where he got his information from.

Ollie has no involvement with this venture. If Chris announced it at the London Excel I don't know where he got his information from.

Ooops, Sorry!:)

So Pat is literally king of the hill then!:cool: