Father and son pairing Larry and Adam Sargent will continue their family rivalry in the RX150 Rallycross Championship this season, racing their pair of distinctive orange buggies in the single-make category that supports the MSA British Rallycross Championship throughout the UK.
Both drivers will get their season in the 1000cc buggies underway this weekend at Croft, and will compete in selected rounds of the Championship. Larry aims to race in events at Croft, Lydden and Pembrey, with Adam hoping to compete in at least half of the nine-event series.
Adam Sargent began racing in the RX150 category at Knockhill in 2010 and has finished on the podium several times, most notably in torrentially wet conditions at Lydden Hill in 2014. He is looking forward to getting back in the buggy and continuing his family rivalry. “I’ve had lots of highlights in RX150s, such as my first time racing abroad in the Netherlands and my first podium at Lydden,” he said. “Most of all though, the opportunity to go wheel-to-wheel with Dad on a regular basis is what keeps us coming back. We have both followed rallycross for most of our lives and the chance to be out on track still gives us a great buzz.”
Adam says that Lydden is his favourite circuit, and he will race in both of the Kent events in 2017. “I always look forward to Lydden, it’s the one I have the most memories of growing up. It’s great for the class that it’s attracting bigger grids this year. There have been some big names in RX150s; it’s a brilliant experience to be able to line up alongside these guys and is a great reflection on Ollie O’Donovan and the RX Racing team’s development of the class. If I could add another podium to my tally at some point that would be excellent, but most of all it’s just about being out there enjoying myself, and beating Dad!”
Larry Sargent’s best RX150 Championship finish to-date has been a fourth overall. He says the arrive-and-drive option of competing in the RX150 Championship is what makes it appealing, and he is also most looking forward to racing at Lydden Hill. “Racing at Lydden is very special for me as I spent many years watching rallycross and wondering what it would be like to be on the grid,” he said. “I’m not technically minded so the RX150 setup enabled me enter rallycross and experience the thrill of racing. I especially like the August event at Lydden because it always attracts a big crowd, but only doing a selection of rounds this year means that I’m looking forward to all of them.”
Like his son, Larry Sargent’s expectations ahead of the season are realistic, but he does have one clear aim. “I’ve never expected to be challenging for the championship, but the hope is that I beat Adam at every event. Beating Adam is always very nice and if I do that, he will be very annoyed with himself.”
RX150 Rallycross Championship promotor Ollie O’Donovan says the Sargents are an asset to the Championship. “For the majority of our competitors, apart from the professional drivers we have come and drive the buggies as guests, they do this as a hobby,” said O’Donovan. “Obviously there are those that have been doing it longer than others, do more events, more testing or whatever, but Larry and Adam come racing because they enjoy it. It’s something different for them, away from their work lives and they have both improved enormously since they started. It’s great to have them in the Championship, they’re both great guys and I wish them every success this year, especially in trying to beat each other. I love to see them getting out of the buggy after each race with a smile on their face.”
Full 2017 RX150 Rallycross Championship events schedule here.
