Rallying: Joe Cruttenden endures a character building weekend at Oulton Park

Photo: Jon Cruttenden Photography

MG Trophy rookie Joe Cruttenden in action

Joe Cruttenden suffered a difficult weekend in the MG Trophy Championship at Oulton Park, crashing and failing to score at the Cheshire circuit.

Cruttenden started the weekend on the back foot having missed out on the practice session on Friday afternoon. As such, his first opportunity to sample the tricky Oulton circuit was in qualifying on Saturday.

He failed to secure a decent lap time after a spin on his third tour and with the MG failing to restart, Cruttenden slotted into sixth and seventh in Class C for race one and two respectively.

Oulton Park caught out many drivers during the course of the weekend. No more so than on the opening lap of race one when the red flag was brought out due to a heavy impact with the barriers. It did not restart due to the damage caused and Cruttenden was lucky enough to emerge unscathed from the trouble ahead.

Race two started much better for Cruttenden, gaining three places by the time he rounded the first corner and he began closing in on the pack in front.

Cruttenden gained significant time on the leaders and, for three laps, stuck to the bumper of the fourth placed Class C runner.

Lap four offered the chance to grab the position across the pit straight and into turn one and he duly delivered, at least for another two tours.

Druids Corner marked the end of Cruttenden’s efforts, as he speared across the circuit and into the barriers; a self-inflicted error that meant he would go no further.

A disappointed Cruttenden said: “That was probably one of my toughest weekends in motorsport. No matter how I tried I could not get into a rhythm with the car and I really did not gel.

"It made so much difference not being able to test on Friday and I was playing catch up for the rest of the meeting.

"That said, it is all experience and part of the learning process. Despite the result, I know I am improving and as the season progresses my lap times are tumbling which is where I wanted to be.

"I will take away the positives from the weekend and concentrate on the final round now.”

The series moves to a double header at Snetterton for the final two rounds of the Championship at the end of September.

Cruttenden is supported by CarPlan, PEC Automotive, SSH Trailers, Opie Oils, A&D Appliances, Guide Bridge MOT & Service Centre, On Tap Plumbing and Heating Services Cumbria Ltd.