IT was a tale of two halves for local racing driver Nick Priddy in the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill in Kent last weekend.

The first two rounds of the championship kicked off at ‘the home of rallycross’ over the Easter weekend, where the local businessman took to the circuit in the RX150 event.

The RX150’s, known as the ‘pocket rockets’ of rallycross are a lightweight, rear wheel drive, 200 BHP single seater buggy hitting around 60mph in 3.5 seconds.

The event always has attracted some of the biggest names in the sport from F1 champion Jensen Button to World Rally driver Kris Meeke.

The competition this weekend was just as hot as professional driver, Klara Andersson, part of the Swedish Junior National Team of Motorsport, took to the wheel.

Priddy had a great start to the first event on Saturday, finishing in the top three of all the heats as well as the semi-final.

The final was a tense affair, after getting off to a difficult start Nick fought off the current RX150 champion in the first laps, only to have a tense fight with professional driver Klara in the final stages.

Nick crossed the line in second place, a great start to the season. Easter Monday was a completely different event.

Driving rain and wind meant the circuit was extremely muddy and slippery.

After finishing in the top two throughout the day, Priddy looked set to clinch the win, storming ahead of the competition from the start.

But, in a cruel twist of events Priddy’s RX150’s driveshaft broke, leaving the driver stranded on the track for the final laps.

Nick, owner of Brendon Service Station and Williton MOT and Car Sales, said: “This weekend threw every sort of driving condition at us. The RX150’s is such a competitive class; I was really enjoying the pace I was getting from the buggy throughout the weekend.

"It was great to get second place on Saturday, but getting so close to the win on Monday was frustrating. I’m hoping the pace will continue in the next round in Ireland.”