LOCAL boy Ollie Bennett rubbed shoulders with the World’s best rally-cross drivers at Lydden Hill in Kent last weekend, writes Paul Willetts, as the FIA World Rally-cross series came to the UK.

Driving the ex-Olsberg Ford Fiesta supercar with its new exciting liveried Xite high performance energy drink recently launched in the UK, and Alcon, the world renowned clutch and brake specialists.

The former Moto-X rider has shot to prominence having switched from rallying to rally-cross this year,and currently lies second overall in the British Rallycross Championship after two rounds.

Bennett lined up with 24 other drivers in the powerful Super Car class alongside former World rally champions Petter Solberg and Sebastian Loeb, DTM champion and current championship leader Mattias Ekstrom in the Audi S1.

With two days of fast and furious action ahead it got underway with dry skies, before the heavens opened for practice and the first two qualifying sessions with Bennett holding 23rd after Saturday’s two runs.

He moved up to 21st after the third qualifier on Sunday and finished 20th overall and third British driver after his final run.

Bennett will now return to focus on the British series at the Pembrey Circuit in West Wales.

• THE new rallycross circuit at Silverstone was unveiled last Tuesday at the launch of the Speedmachine Festival.

World rallycross drivers Solberg, Johan Kristoffersson, Andreas Bakkerud and Guy Wilks were joined by British rallycross stars plus former WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen at the launch.

Bennet was also in attendance.

“We had a good day at the opening of the rallycross track,” he said.

“I was lucky to be one of the first cars around the track. It’s going to be good for people to watch here, plenty to see and the jump is big together with a tight and twisty track.

“There will be a lot of overtaking but also quite easy to make a mistake but I think there will be some good racing to be had.”