Former Irish Rallycross champion Michael Coyne has been enlisted to help develop the new Lakeside Raceway Rallycross circuit.
The experienced rallycross driver was called upon to test the newly constructed circuit which will host the inaugural meeting of the seven round Extreme Rallycross Championship from September 4-5.
Before emigrating to Australia in 2012, Coyne established himself in the European rallycross scene, claiming the Irish national championship in 2009.
The Irishman tested the new facility in one of the series’ Supercar Lite as the venue prepares for its competitive debut.
Having raced at Europe’s elite rallycross circuits, Coyne was impressed with the venue, which he feels will offer a challenge to all competitors.
The former European Rallycross Championship competitor is confident the facility will be ready for the season opener.
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“It’s a nice technical track, there are some fast corners, but there is also two quite technical corners, which will probably suit the rally drivers more than anything else,” Coyne told Speedcafe.com.
“I took the owner John Tetley for a spin in the car so he could see how the car reacts on the track and what the normal line will be for the track.
“After that he could see whether changes need to be made.
“The only thing we really discussed with regards to changes was the position of some of the barriers.
“It will be a track that will keep all the guys together and it will produce very close racing.
“A lot of the UK tracks are very fast but what you find in Scandinavia is that the tracks are more technical.
“It (the track) meets the standard of Europe, the basic layout of the track is good and the spectator viewing is going to be superb.”
Coyne is now hoping he can strike a deal to re-ignite his rallycross career in the Extreme Rallycross Championship.
Rally ace Alister McRae is the only driver confirmed for the top level Superlite Supercar category.
“I will give anything to get out and actually compete but getting the car and the package together is the problem,” added Coyne.
“I would love to be in the Supercar Lite class.”
Meanwhile, Extreme Rallycross Championship organiser David Ridden has confirmed his operation will submit an expression of interest in response to CAM’s recent search for a promoter to run a sanctioned national rallycross championship.
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