Lydden Hill played host to the season finale of the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy Finale recently and unfortunately for Tristan Ovenden the season ended in the crash barrier rather than the podium, having to sit out Sunday’s racing as a result of the damage sustained.

With night racing on the Saturday followed by the traditional firework display. Infront of the record breaking sell-out crowd Ovenden was hopeful for a strong result at his home circuit after a podium finish at his last time out at the legendary Loheac Circuit in France.

The Goody Demolition backed driver Got straight down to business fifth fastest in Q1 Starting from pole position. For Q2 another start from pole position which saw him run to fourth fastest overall. At the intermediate stage he was in fifth overall place, in a great position and was rewarded with a second row start for the final.

The Witham supported driver lined up for the final which was run under floodlights. After a great start he was battling mid pack defending his starting position.

Then on the final lap after a brave mid-air pass over the jump the landing damaged one of the rear dampers, effecting the cars handling. To further add to the Canterbury driver’s woes the engine briefly died at the top of Hairy Hill enabling him to be passed and clipping him doing further damage. This extra contact sent him spinning into the Armco!

Due to the nature of the damage Ovenden was forced to sit out the racing on Sunday. Ovenden sees out the 2025 campaign in sixth place overall. He can only wonder what could have been. Now all attention shifts to next year.

Speaking after a disappointing weekend, Ovenden said: “It was all looking good until the last half of the last lap of the Final.  I can’t really believe it went wrong one corner from the finish.

“I had some contact with Julian (Godfrey) when I over took him over the jump which broke the right rear, then the engine momentarily died coming down the hill and contact from a car that went past was just enough to break the front right, so it was like it was on four wheel steer left! Which made it impossible to steer putting me into the Armco. What a shame.

“A tough weekend to take having just gone so well in France. The roller coaster of racing.

“Unfortunately, It did quite a lot of damage, particularly breaking the damper which we don’t carry a spare for, so we didn’t make Sunday. Not the end to the season we wanted at all.

“Will on the hand was great. We have put a lot of work into the set up on the Crosscar to try and find some more performance and it seemed to work, so we were really pleased with that. He drove really well and was so close to the win on Sunday.

“We had a lot of supporters and guests with us, and overall, it was a fabulous event. A sell out on Saturday actually! So, it was great to have them there and experience that. We very much appreciate everyone’s support it makes it worthwhile even in the tough times.

“Thanks to the team for their help over the season, we are already looking forward to 2026 and his 15th year racing in the British Rallycross Championship.”