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Preview, round eight: Trackrod Historic Cup
Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally ChampionshipPress release: Thursday, 17 September, 2009
It is back to gravel for the final round of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Trackrod Historic Cup (26 September).
The season decider will be played out in the famous Yorkshire forests, starting with a 16-mile stage in Dalby and a superb field of nearly 70 cars will gather in Pickering for an early start on Saturday morning.
Category 1
Heading the field away will be the category one pre '68 cars and it is the Porsche 911 of Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride that has the best chance of winning the overall BHRC title. If the Irish crew win the category, they will repeat their 2004 crown and that is a result well within their reach. However, it only needs a small problem or a puncture to shake things up.
Leading the chase of the Porsche will be the Lotus Cortina of Paul Mankin/Desmond Bell, who also top class B4. Chasing them will be the Porsche 911 of Phil and Barbara Smith, fresh from contesting Tour Britannia, while the Saab 96 of Nick Pinkett/Jonathan Lodge tops class B3.
In B1, it will be a head to head between the Sunbeam Imp Sport of Geoff Taylor/Steve Greenhill and the Sunbeam Stiletto of Mike Barratt/Jody Watson. Barratt had a great run in Flanders as he fought back from an early delay, only to be denied a finish due to driveshaft dramas. He will be keen to make amends in Yorkshire.
Adding to the category one field are crew contesting the HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge and the Mini 50 Cup, which has boosted the field to 18 cars. Notable front-runners include the Volvo Amazon of Graham Waite/Gill Cotton and the Minis of Clive King/Bob Ward and Terry Cree/Richard Shores.
Category 2
Category two is for the cars from 1968 to 1974, with David Stokes and Guy Weaver chasing the overall title in their Ford Escort Mk1. They can only go all out to win the category and see if Nutt has done the same. If Nutt does win category one, Stokes cannot be champion.
In class C5 it is Belgian crew Stefaan Stouf and Joris Erard who are the major rivals to Stokes, while the class also include local legend Bob Bean, partnered by Malcolm Smithson in his Escort Mk1. Also set to feature in C5 is the glorious Lancia Stratos of Steve Perez and Paul Spooner.
Taking the fight to the Escorts in category two will be the fastest of the Porsche 911s and two Yorkshire drivers will be right on the pace. Peter Smith and Russ Langthorne are getting quicker and quicker in their 911, while Tim Mason and Graham Wild will be bang on the pace after a short break from competition.
Meanwhile, the contest for class C3 will be as fierce as ever, with three cars at the head of the action. Andrew Siddall and Captain Thompson took their Escort Mk1 to a fine victory in Flanders, but Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes will be out to turn the tables. If their entry is confirmed, Drew Wylie and Howard Pridmore will be right in the thick of the battle. But with more very quick C3 Escorts in the hands of drivers like Russell Morgan, James Slaughter and Robin Shuttleworth, the class is wide open.
A good C2 entry among the 1600cc Escorts should be headed by Vincent Bristow and Tim Sayer, but Neil Rudd/Brian Hodgson and Richard Williams/Joe Cruttenden will take the fight to the Sussex driver.
Category 3
Category three is for the most recent cars up to 1981 and is set to deliver a spectacular contest among four very quick Mk2 Escorts. Darren Moon and Chris Parsons are on target to win the category in the championship and will want to wrap up the season with a big result in Moon's native Yorkshire. However, after missing the most recent asphalt rounds, Nick Elliott/Dave Price and Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey are back in harness and will surely have another monster contest. Elliott won the event a year ago, while Reynolds is not as familiar with the Yorkshire stages as some of his rivals.
But they will all be watching the pace of Martin McCormack and Jim Goodman with great interest as McCormack drives his Escort Mk2 for the first time in 10 months. Having not been out this year in the car, McCormack is not registered for the championship, but he is sure to be very quick.
Leading the chase of the big four Escorts will be the similar cars of Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing, local legend Peter Slights and Joyce Champion, Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby and James Potter/Bob Duck.
In class D3, the contest will be among more Escort Mk2s, this time Pinto-powered, with Richard Lane and Frank Richer likely to set the pace from Wayne Bonser and Richard Aston.
Finally, in class D2 and fresh from a great result in Flanders, it is Jacob Scannell and Nina Thompson who should take the spoils in their Escort Mk2.
The Trackrod Historic Cup starts at 7.30am on Saturday 26 September from Pickering Showground. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk
Added: 17th September 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round seven: Historic Tour of Flanders
Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally ChampionshipPress release: Friday, 4 September, 2009
Belgium is the next destination for contenders in the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship and the penultimate event of the season, the Historic Tour of Flanders (11-13 September).
The third and final asphalt event of the season runs on the roads around the host town of Roeselare, which provide a unique challenge for the crews.
Category 1
Heading the small category one field of pre '68 cars will be the Porsche 911 of Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride and this is a very important event for the Irish crew. They are the only remaining BHRC contenders with the potential to take a maximum championship score, providing they win category one in Belgium and in Yorkshire at the end of September. So, Nutt will be setting a quick but safe pace in Belgium as they bid to repeat their 2004 overall title.
Ranged against Nutt/McBride, and capable of giving them a real challenge, is the similar car of Rikki Proffitt/Phill Harrison, which will be having only its second BHRC outing.
Among the smaller capacity cars, it is the Singer Chamois of Gary and Jane Edgington that is likely to shine on the slippery asphalt. Aiming to chase the Edgingtons will be Mike Barratt and Jody Watson in their Sunbeam Stiletto. Initially Barratt had planned to run his Mini Cooper, but that car is not ready following it's Isle of Man accident and so he is reverting to the Sunbeam for the Belgian trip.
Category 2
Category two is for the cars from 1968 to 1974, and it is David Stokes and Guy Weaver who are chasing the overall title in their Ford Escort Mk1. They are now the major challengers to Nutt/McBride in overall terms and need a maximum score in Belgium to maintain their title bid. Their 2008 visit to Flanders ended with a major accident after a steering failure, so they will be keen to have a clear run this time around.
However, the car that could set the ultimate pace in category two is the Porsche 911RS of Steven Smith and Phil Spurge, on only Smith's second rally of the year.
Stokes has plenty of other opposition, too, including the Escorts of Rupert Lomax/David Alcock and Ernie Graham/tba. Meanwhile, a tremendous Porsche entry also includes Derek Boyd/Maurice Beckett, Peter Lythell/Gill Cotton and Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne.
Class C3 for the Pinto-powered Escorts will feature another mighty contest as Drew Wylie and Howard Pridmore take on Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson.
Meanwhile, Vince Bristow/Keith Fellowes and Matt Fowle/Robert Cook will battle for class C2 in their 1600cc Escorts.
Category 3
Category three is for the most recent cars up to 1981 and this one is very open heading for Belgium as a gaggle of Escorts and Porsches top the field. Among the quickest Escorts will be Darren Moon/Chris Parsons, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs and brothers Phil and Mick Squires. However, none of them are Belgian experts, so it could be a Porsche at the top of the category.
In the Porsche camp are category three 911s for Adrian Kermode/Liz Jordan and Mike Anderson/Alan Brown, while an entry for Richard Tuthill/Calvin Cooledge could really shake up the order.
An excellent entry of Escort Mk2s in class D3 promises a fine battle, with Guy Woodcock/Iwan Jones sure to be to the head of the action. But there is strong opposition to come from Mark Clifford/Graham Wild, Chris Shooter/Ben LeGood and Derek Belbin/Steve Dargan. Finally, in class D2, Flanders newcomers Jakob Scannell and Nina Thompson (Escort Mk2) take on the Sunbeam Ti of Pat Anderson and Tom Mansfield.
The Historic Tour Flanders is organised by the Autoclub Midden Vlaanderen. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.omloopvanvlaanderen.be
Added: 4th September 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round six: Harry Flatters Historic Rally
Press release: Sunday, 27 July, 2009
The daunting Epynt ranges in Mid-Wales are the venue for round six of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the S&G Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally on 1/2 August.
For the second asphalt event on the schedule, crews will head to Brecon for the event that starts with two stages on Saturday evening and continues with a full day on the ranges through Sunday.
Category 1
A slender field for category one will assemble for the challenge of around 80 miles on Epynt and it is Isle of Man winners Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride who will start as favourites in their Porsche 911. Nutt has a fine record on the Epynt stages and his neat and quick style will surely pay dividends as they continue their challenge for a second overall BHRC title.
However, it will be very interesting to see the pace of Rikki Proffitt and Phill Harrison in their similar ex-Steve Perez 911. Proffitt took the car to the Isle of Man and loved the chance to start learning about it, despite being stopped early by gearbox problems. If all goes well, the North Wales crew will be aiming to chase the Nutt/McBride Porsche.
Another crew in search of a major points' haul after driveshaft disasters on the Isle of Man is the Lotus Cortina pair of Paul Mankin/Desmond Bell, while the Mini Cooper S of Mike Bartlett/David Leslie completes the category one field.
Category 2
Absent from category two for the Harry Flatters are overall BHRC leaders Rupert Lomax and David Alcock, who have elected to make this one of their dropped scores while having a gearbox rebuild for their Escort Mk1.
Instead, it is the Escort of David Stokes/Guy Weaver running at the head of the category two field and they will be tough to beat over a venue that Stokes knows well. Chasing Stokes will be Ernie Graham/Andy Morgan in their Escort, along with local experts Neal James/Kevin Jones, having their debut rally in the ex-Jeff Churchill Escort Mk1 'ONY 2L'. Although he will be getting used to BDA power for the first time, James should be very quick.
In class C4, a gaggle of very quick Porsches will take the fight to the Escorts, with cars for Andrew Haddon/Nick Starkey, Derek Boyd/Simon Hunter, Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne and Peter Lythell/Gill Cotton.
As ever, the battle for class C3 will be fierce and it is class championship leaders Drew Wylie and Howard Pridmore at the head of the pack in their Pinto-engined Escort Mk1. Championship regulars Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson will be pushing hard, but the ultimate C3 pace may well be set by Epynt aces Toby Adam and Neil Cook in their Escort Mk1.
Finally, in class C2 it will be a straight fight between the Escort Mk1s of Matt Fowle/Robert Cook and Richard Williams/Richard Ekin.
Category 3
With eleven class D5 Ford Escort Mk2s in category three it is a fabulous line-up and the pace at the head of the pack will be sensational. The man in top form is Gwyndaf Evans, partnered by Huw Lewis, in the Viking Motorsport Escort Mk2. Evans heads to Epynt on the back of three straight BHRC victories, but will have a big fight on his hands with the Escort Mk2 of Mark Solloway/Den Golding. Although unlikely to be registered for points, Solloway is the current Epynt master and will set a searing pace. With his mind on championship points, Evans may need to make a call between battling Solloway for overall honours and driving with championship points in mind.
However, this is not just a two-horse contest, as Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey, Terry Brown/tba and Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James pack out the top five crews and all will be mightily quick. Then come Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons and Darren Moon/Chris Parsons, while outside the top 10 is another clutch of D5 Escorts including Conor Corkill/Howard Allison, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs, James Potter/Arwel Jenkins and Phil Squires/Mick Squires. Taking the fight to the Escorts, and overdue a strong finish, is the Vauxhall Chevette of Rob Smith/Shaun O'Gorman.
In D3, the Escort Mk2 of Guy Woodcock and Hu Kent really should set the pace and Epynt ace Woodcock will be aiming to beat as many of the more powerful D5 Escorts as he can in his Pinto-powered car. Lining up against Woodcock in D3 will be Chris Shooter/Bev LeGood and Wayne Bonser/Richard Aston in their Escort Mk2s.
The S & G Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally is organised by Brecon Motor Club. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.breconmotorclub.co.uk
Added: 26th July 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round five: Isle of Man Historic Rally
Press release: Thursday, 2 July, 2009
The unique challenge of the Isle of Man marks round five of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Isle of Man Historic Rally on 9/10 July.
The annual trip across the water to the Isle of Man is always one of the highlights of the BHRC schedule. Two full days of intense competition on the island roads makes the Isle of Man Historic Rally a fitting event for this prestigious championship and the 2009 edition should be a cracker.
Category 1
Heading the category one entry is the Sunbeam Tiger of son and father crew Jonathan and Graham Gale. This is the car used so effectively by Patrick Watts over the last two seasons and Gale is now driving it with panache. This is the car that is likely to set the pace out of the blocks, but the Isle of Man represents perhaps the best opportunity for Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride to really take the fight to Gale. They know the island incredibly well and their Porsche 911 is always strong there, so they will be chasing hard to add another Manx victory to their tally.
Adding further strength to the class B5 field is former Escort crew Rikki Proffitt and Phill Harrison in the ex-Steven Smith Porsche 911. This is a new venture for Proffitt, and his pace will be the major talking point in category one. In the other classes in category one, BHRC title contenders Paul Mankin/Desmond Bell will be leading B4 runners in their Lotus Cortina, while the Isle of Man debut for Alan Honess/Tim Sayer in their class B3 Ford Cortina GT will be interesting to watch. Isle of Man veterans John and Stephen Moxon are back with their Volvo Amazon 122S to contest their 36th rally on the island.
This event always brings out a contingent of very quick Mini Coopers from the island and Ireland, including the car of Stephen Higgins/David Corlett, while a welcome return is made by son and father crew, Matt and Dood Pearce in their Cooper S. Then, all the way from Japan come Shinobu Kitani and Makoto Mizoi to compete in their Mini Cooper S. In class B1, Gary and Jane Edgington will again deliver a heroic performance in their Singer Chamois.
Category 2
Category two is for the cars from 1968 to 1974, so this is all about Ford Escorts and Porsche 911s. Heading the field will be BHRC title contenders Rupert Lomax and David Alcock in their Escort Mk1. Rupert will be one of the most spectacular drivers on the island and if it all holds together, he will be very tough to beat. Out to stop the North Wales driver will be David Stokes/Guy Weaver and Ernie Graham/Ashley Trimble in two more very quick Mk1 Escorts, while Bob Bean and Malcolm Smithson are out again in their Mk1.
However, the island has always been good to the Porsches in category two and at least four of them could feature strongly. Most notable is the car of reigning BHRC champions Steven Smith and John Nichols, out for the first time this season to contest their favourite event. They are a bit out of practice, but will surely feature as the event progresses. Irish veteran Derek Boyd and his daughter Roisin will be very strong, as will Peter Smith/Graham Wild and Peter Lythell/Gill Cotton.
Class C3, for the Pinto-engined Escort Mk1s is one of the most competitive of the BHRC and another mighty contest is in prospect. The key players are XS Racing stable mates Drew Wylie/Howard Pridmore and Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson along with Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and James Slaughter/Phil Peak. With category pacesetter Tim Jones electing to miss this event, his rivals will take the chance to narrow the points' gap.
Category 3
Category three is for the most recent cars up to 1981. This is all about Escort Mk2s and the top D5 cars will surely set the overall pace. Star entry is the Escort of Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis, the car built by World Champion co-driver Phil Mills. Their rivals include Darren Moon/Chris Parsons and Will Onions/Tim Hobbs, but the arrival of Mark Solloway and Den Golding in the entry list could really spice up the action. Solloway has limited experience of the island, but will surely be very quick indeed.
However, there is massive strength in the D5 field, including and local crews Conor Corkill/Howard Allison and Ian Corkill/Rivka Corkill. The Corkill dynasty is steeped in Manx rallying history and young Conor is showing tremendous pace as he competes against his father Ian.
But category three is not just about Escort Mk2s. Roger Kilty and Lynette Banks are getting quicker and quicker in their Vauxhall Chevette HSR, while the Lotus Sunbeams of Adrian and Daniel Seabridge and John Kirkpatrick/Martyn Quine are capable of mixing it with the Escorts. Then, there is the glorious Opel Ascona 400 of Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan, as the Welsh ace makes a welcome return to the island. Adding to the category three mix is the Porsche 911 of Mike Anderson/Mark Perryman, which could be a real darkhorse for a top result.
Finally, a great contest is in prospect among the Pinto-powered class D3 Escorts of Mark and Brett Clifford, Guy Woodcock/Iwan Jones and Chris Shooter/Bev LeGood.
The Isle of Man Historic Rally is organised by Manx International Rally Ltd. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.mir.co.im
The historic rally starts from Douglas on Friday morning (9 July) and finishes on Saturday afternoon.
Added: 2nd July 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round four: Mid Wales Historic Stages
Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship
Rupert Lomax/David AlcockPress release: Monday, 15 June, 2009
Some of the famous stages from Wales Rally GB await crews in round four of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Historic Stages on Sunday 21 June.
With a strong entry of over 60 cars, there will be great competition across all three categories as crews tackle famous stages in the Hafren and Myherin complexes. From the start in Newtown, the rally heads into the surrounding forests for 50 miles of superb gravel roads.
Category 1
Favourites for category one spoils among the pre '68 cars is the Sunbeam Tiger of Jonathan and Graham Gale, which has shown prodigious speed already this year. However, this is far from a forgone conclusion, as the Porsche 911 of Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride will be as big a rival as ever to the V8 Tiger. In the most recent round, the Severn Valley Stages, Nutt was caught out by the Tiger's dust and slid off the road, rolling the Porsche in the process of an uncharacteristic slip.
Leading the chase of the Tiger and the 911 will be overall title contenders Paul Mankin and Desmond Bell in their Lotus Cortina. The Newcastle-upon-Tyne crew is having a great season and another strong result will keep them in contention for the BHRC title. Ranged against Mankin/Bell in class B4 will be Welsh Historic Championship contenders Graham Waite/Gill Cotton (Volvo Amazon) and Gwilym Roberts/Gwawr Hughes (Lotus Cortina).
Heading class B2 will be the Mini Cooper S of Mike Barratt/Jody Watson, while class B1 has the Sunbeam Imp of Geoff Taylor/Steve Greenhill up against the two-stroke Saabs of John Parker/Caroline Lodge and Nick Pinkett/Jonathan Lodge. The fact that the co-driving Lodges are husband and wife should add to the battle of the Saabs.
Category 2
It is proving to be a great season for Rupert Lomax/David Alcock, who head to the Mid Wales as overall leaders in the BHRC after three very good results in their Escort Mk1. They will be determined to maintain that momentum, but two more Escort Mk1s in particular will offer very strong opposition. David Stokes/Guy Weaver have yet to have a proper clean run this season and will be eager to put that right in Wales, while Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard are also very quick in their similar car.
The battle for class C4 will be rejoined with the Porsche 911 of Tim Mason/Graham Wild taking on the Ford Capri RS3100 of Jeremy Easson/Alan Cook. Also getting into the frame in C4 as he gets used to his Porsche 911 is Peter Smith, partnered as usual by Russ Langthorne. This trio of C4 cars also has the potential to give strong chase to the BDA-powered Escorts in the category two field.
Class C3, for the Pinto-powered Escorts, is hugely competitive, with at least four potential winners. Tim Jones/Don James will be seeking to press home the local advantage, but Drew Wylie/Howard Pridmore are having a fantastic season and will make a real fight of it. Add in Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson, Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and the rising star of C3, James Slaughter with Greg McCormack alongside, and it's going to be some battle. Further spice is added to the mix by the rallying debut of former Le Mans winner Guy Smith, co-driven by Graham Henshaw in the Escort Mk1 driven by Guy's father Peter last year.
In class C2, Matt Fowle/Robert Cook could set the pace, but a late entry from Vince Bristow/tba will ensure a fierce contest, with Richard Williams/Richard Ekin also looking to get into the contest.
Category 3
Another superb entry for category three packs no less than 14 Escort Mk2s into the top 20 seeds, with Severn Valley winners Gwyndaf Evans/Gareth Roberts leading the way in the car from Phil Mills' stable. But with Nick Elliott/Dave Price, Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey and Darren Moon/Chris Parsons running as the next three cars on the road, the pace is going to be sensational.
Elliott won the season-opening Bulldog Rally, while Moon won in Kielder, so Reynolds will be very keen to make it four winners from four events. But that's certainly not the end of the strong Mk2s, as packing out the top 10 are Paul Griffiths/Sam Collis, Terry Brown/Den Golding, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs and Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons. It is a stunning line-up, and the quality continues well beyond the top 10 with crews like Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing and Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James.
In D3, the pace of Irish Escort Mk2 crew Ryan Barrett and Barry Ferris will be mighty and they will be very tough to beat if they have a clear run. Guy Woodcock/Iwan Jones and Richard Lane/Frank Richer head the opposition, while the Escort Mk2 of Jacob Scannell/Nina Thompson leads D2.
The Rally Marketing Mid Wales Historic Stages is organised by Newtown and District Automobile Club Ltd. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.MidWalesStages.co.uk
Added: 15th June 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round three: Severn Valley Historic Challenge
Press release: Thursday, 21 May, 2009
Round three of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship brings the BHRC crews back to Wales for the second of three gravel events in the principality and the classic stages used on the Severn Valley Historic Challenge are widely regarded as some of the best of the season.
The BHRC is riding a wave of popularity with competitors and spectators and another excellent field will gather in Builth Wells on Saturday 30 May for championship round three of eight.
Category 1
Category one is for the oldest cars, from the pre '68 era, and they run first on the road with a short gap before the rest of the historic field. In category one, it was the Sunbeam Tiger of Jonathan and Graham Gale that set a cracking pace on the Bulldog Rally to take first blood with the car used so successfully in 2007 and 2008 by Patrick Watts. But in Kielder, Gale hit trouble and slid off the road early in the rally leaving the way open for Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride to win the category in their Porsche 911.
But the current top scorer in the championship comes from class B4 in the form of the Lotus Cortina of Paul Mankin and Desmond Bell. They've had two great runs already this season and now come back to Wales aiming for another strong result to stay at the head of the overall title race.
Class B2 is home to the Minis, including the Cooper S of Mike Barratt/Jody Watson and, out for the first time this season, the similar car of Terry Cree and Richard Shores. In class B1, another round of the Imp battle is likely as Gary and Jane Edgington pit their Singer Chamois against the Hillman Imp Sport of Geoff Taylor and Steve Greenhill. The Edgington husband and wife crew took a famous last stage win on the Bulldog, but retired with engine dramas in Kielder.
Category 2
In category two, for the post-historic cars, Rupert Lomax and David Alcock is the crew to beat after two strong runs, although rotor arm problems in Kielder cost their Escort Mk1 another category victory. Instead, it was the Porsche 911 of Tim Mason and Graham Wild that won on the Pirelli Historic Rally after an excellent run and they have the pace to win again this weekend.
Back in category two for the Severn Valley will be David Stokes and Guy Weaver in their Escort Mk1, after the car was badly damaged on the Bulldog. They borrowed a Mk2 Escort for the Pirelli, but now return to familiar surroundings after a major rebuild on the Mk1. Stokes will go head to head with Lomax at the front of the category, while the return of Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard adds another very quick Mk1 to the contest.
Class C3, for the Pinto-engined Escorts, is one of the toughest in the championship with a whole crop of potential winners. Tim Jones and Don James scored an emphatic victory on home ground for the Bulldog, but in Kielder it was Drew Wylie and Howard Pridmore who took a great victory. Jones has vowed to win again back in Wales, but Wylie is showing great pace this season. Other leading Escort Mk1s in C3 include those of Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson and Neal James/Kevin Jones. In class C2, for the 1600cc cars, Vince Bristow and Dean Mitchell are likely to set the pace, but have opposition from Matt Fowle/tba, Richard Williams/Richard Ekin, Tony Ginns/Mark Ellis and David Kirby/Sean Kennedy in a battle of the Mk1 Escorts.
Category 3
Four Escort Mk2 crews stand out at the head of category three, for the cars produced from 1975 to 1981, where the pace this season has been spectacular. Nick Elliott and Dave Price stormed to victory on the Bulldog, but slid off the road on the Pirelli. Instead, it was Darren Moon and Chris Parsons who took a great victory in Kielder to back up a solid start on the Bulldog.
However, both crews know that they cannot afford to overlook Julian Reynolds and Ian Oakey, who could set the absolute pace on the Severn Valley. Reynolds chased Elliott home on the Bulldog, but retired from the Pirelli after gearbox and then overheating dramas. If he gets a clear run on stages he knows well, Reynolds could well make it three winners in three rallies.
But the same can be said of Gwyndaf Evans and Clive Jenkins, who make a welcome return in the car of Phil Mills' Viking Motorsport. They showed good pace on the Bulldog and will now build on that in their second BHRC outing.
Others Escort Mk2s to watch in category three include those of Seamus O'Connell/Paul Wakely, Dick Slaughter/Preston Ayres, Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs, James Potter/Arwel Jenkins and Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons. Ranged against the Escorts at the head of the category are the Vauxhall Chevettes of Rob Smith/Shaun O'Gorman and Roger Kilty/Lynette Banks, and Smith is overdue a clear run to show just what he can do against the Escort hordes.
More Escorts pack out class D3, for the Pinto-powered cars, and it is the car of Ryan Barrett and Barry Ferris that should set the absolute pace after a stunning BHRC debut victory on the Pirelli. Rivals to the flying Irish crew include David Lloyd-Roberts/Dei Jones, Richard Lane/Frank Richer and Adrian Young/Keith Fellowes.
The Severn Valley Historic Rally is organised by Midland Manor Motor Club Ltd. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.severnvalleynational.co.uk
Added: 21st May 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round two: Pirelli Historic Rally
Press release: Thursday, 9 April, 2009
The second round of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship will pit another fine field of historic rally cars against the challenge of Kielder on the Pirelli Historic Rally (Friday/Saturday 17/18 April).
With two stages on Friday evening and then four more in a quick-fire leg on Saturday morning, it will be a hugely competitive event with battles across all the classes.
Category 1
Category one is for the oldest cars, from the pre '68 era, and they run first on the road with a short gap before the rest of the historic field. One of the stars of the Bulldog was Jonathan Gale, having his first rally in the ex-Patrick Watts Sunbeam Tiger. Co-driven by his father Graham, Jonathan drove superbly in Wales to win category 1 for the pre '68 cars.
Gale's rivals will again include Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) and Newcastle crew Paul Mankin/Desmond Bell (Lotus Cortina) on their home event. Meanwhile, returning to the category for this event with their Porsche 911 will be Phil and Barbara Smith.
One of the best battles on the Bulldog was for class B1 as Gary and Jane Edgington (Singer Chamois) beat Steve Taylor and Steve Greenhill (Hillman Imp Sport) in a great final stage contest.
Category 2
In category two, for the post-historic cars, it is Ford Escort Mk1s against Porsche 911s at the head of the category. Former British Rally champion David Higgins is mounting a serious bid on the historic title this year in a Mk1 Escort from Mark Solloway's stable and started his campaign with category two (1968-74) victory in Wales. With Ieuan Thomas alongside, Higgins won despite a serious hand injury and having to adapt to route notes after nearly a decade using his own pace notes. He will surely be quicker still in Kielder.
Sure to go well, however, will be Rupert Lomax and David Alcock in their Escort Mk1. They took second to Higgins in Wales and won here a year ago, on their Kielder debut. Meanwhile, a real dark horse in class C5 is Bob Bean, the amazingly quick 71-year old who has acquired the ex-Jeremy Easson Escort for this season and has Malcolm Smithson alongside as usual.
Tim Mason/Graham Wild are overdue a strong result and have previously shown their pace in the region with their Porsche 911, while the newly completed 911 of Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne could also be a major contender. Ranged against the Porsches in class C4 will be the Ford Capri RS3100 of Jeremy Easson/Alun Cook, fresh from a great result on the Bulldog.
Class C3 is dominated by the 2-litre Pinto-powered Escort Mk1s and there are a gaggle of potential class winners in what will surely be one of the most competitive classes of the rally. Strong contenders include Bulldog victors Tim Jones and Don James, while Northumberland crew Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes will also be right up there on their home event along with Drew Wylie/Howard Pridmore and Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson.
In class C2 for the 1600cc cars, championship newcomers Richard Williams and Richard Ekin took their Mk1 Escort to victory on the Bulldog.
Category 3
Category three is for the cars produced from 1975 to 1981 and here it is the Ford Escort Mk2 that is the car to beat. With a stunning charge, Nick Elliott and Dave Price won the Bulldog to make it two wins from two BHRC starts. Can the Cheltenham crew complete the hat-trick in Cumbria?
Their major rivals include Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey, who claimed second in Wales despite some pre-event engine dramas, while more fast and spectacular Escorts will be in the hands of 2008 Pirelli winner Darren Moon, now teamed with Chris Parsons, Bulldog star Seamus O'Connell, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs and Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons. Joining the D5 ranks for this event will be David Stokes and Guy Weaver in the Escort Mk2 of Jonathan Brace, which is on loan after Stokes' regular Mk1 was badly damaged on the Bulldog.
But no one should see class D5 as just about Ford Escorts. Two Vauxhall Chevettes are sure to fly, with the car of Rob Smith/Shaun O'Gorman more than capable of shaking up the Escort ranks, while Roger Kilty/Lynette Banks are getting quicker and quicker in their Chevette. Added to the mix is the Triumph TR7 V8 of Mike Anderson/Mark Perryman, with its Bulldog engine maladies hopefully resolved.
In D3, for the Pinto-powered Escorts, the benchmarks should be the Mk2 Escort of Richard Lane/Frank Richer, which was hobbled by a puncture in Wales, and David Lloyd-Roberts/Dei Jones, while Chris Shooter/Bev LeGood will also be up there in another Escort Mk2.
In D2, the Escort Mk2 crew of Jakob Scannell/Nina Thompson make the long trek north from Dorset in search of another class win.
The Pirelli Historic Rally is organised by the Cumberland Sporting Car Club and for more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk
Added: 9th April 2009 [permalink]
Preview, round one: Bulldog Historic Rally
Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally ChampionshipPress release: Friday, 20 March, 2009
The opening round of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship has attracted a sensational 83-car field to the Bulldog Historic Rally (Saturday 28 March).
Three former British champions and four former British historic champions are all in the entry for the event that tackles 50 miles of prime Welsh forest roads in just four special stages. It promises to be a fabulous start to the 2009 season.
Category 1
Category one is for the oldest cars, from the pre '68 era, and they run first on the road with a short gap before the rest of the historic field. Top of the tree is the Porsche 911 of former champions Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride, but they can expect a stern challenge from the similar car of team mates Stuart Rolt/Richard Pomfret, making a rare but welcome BHRC appearance.
Lining up against the Porsches will be the former championship winning Sunbeam Tiger, now in the hands of Jonathan Gale, who is co-driven by his father Graham for his debut rally in the ex-Patrick Watts car. Meanwhile, Russell Brookes, a winner of this rally 20 years ago, is having a one-off run in the Porsche 911 of Steve Perez, with Neil Wilson alongside.
Local driver Gwilym Roberts heads the B4 field in his Lotus Cortina, partnered by Gwawr Hughes, but the amazing Volvo Amazon of Graham Waite/Gill Cotton will be hustled through the forests in fine style. James Stait heads the B2 pack in his MG Midget, while local crew Gary and Jane Edgington from Corwen top the B1 field in their wonderful Singer Chamois.
Category 2
In category two, for the post-historic cars, it is Ford Escort Mk1s against Porsche 911s at the head of the category. In the Escort brigade, BHRC debutant David Higgins, partnered by Ieuan Thomas, should really fly in one of Mark Solloway's Mk1 Escorts. David Stokes and Guy Weaver have already scored two great results this season in warm-up events, so they will be fully match fit. But with rivalry from Rupert Lomax/David Alcock and Rikki Proffitt/Phill Harrison, it will be very hard fought. Also in C5 is the beautiful Lancia Stratos of Steve Perez/Paul Spooner.
Jeremy Easson has switched to his stunning Ford Capri RS3100 and will be a real crowd favourite, but goes up against at least five Porsche 911s in class C4. Tim Mason/Graham Wild and Andrew Haddon/Mark Crisp are established pacesetters, while the newly completed 911 of Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne could also be a major contender.
Class C3 is dominated by the 2-litre Pinto-powered Escort Mk1s and there are as many as seven potential class winners in what will surely be one of the most competitive classes of the rally. Pick a winner from Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes, Russell Morgan/Martin Kenyon, James Young/David Young, Neal James/Kevin Jones, Tim Jones/Don James, Andrew Siddall/Captain Thompson and Robin Shuttleworth/Mark Midgley. It will be a fierce contest!
In class C2 for the 1600cc cars, championship newcomers Richard Williams/Richard Ekin take on the similar Mk1 Escort of Tony Ginns/Mark Ellis.
Category 3
Leading the category three competitors away will be Gwyndaf Evans, partnered by Gareth Roberts in a fresh Mk2 Escort from the new company set up by World champion co-driver Phil Mills. No one knows these stages better than Gwyndaf, so expect him to fly on what is, at least initially, a one-off outing.
The line-up of established BHRC contenders is hugely impressive and it is the Ford Escort Mk2 crews of Darren Moon/Chris Parsons, Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper, Nick Elliott/Dave Price, Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James, Will Onions/Tim Hobbs and Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons that will be right on the pace. Then there is the Mk2 of Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey, which could be the quickest of the lot. What is certain is that the pace in class D5 is going to be ferocious.
But no one should see D5 as just about Ford Escorts. The Vauxhall Chevette of Rob Smith/Shaun O'Gorman is sure to fly on its BHRC debut, with the car more than capable of shaking up the Escort ranks. Then there is the class D4 Triumph TR7 V8 of Mike Anderson/Alan Brown as the driver returns to forest rallying after a lengthy break.
In D3, for the Pinto-powered Escorts, Guy Woodcock/Iwan Jones should go well even though Guy has done very little gravel rallying in his long career. The D3 benchmark should be the similar Mk2 Escort of Richard Lane/Frank Richer. In D2, Jacob Scannell and Nina Thompson make their BHRC debut in a 1600cc Escort Mk2.
The Bulldog Historic Rally is organised by Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club and starts at 7.45am on Saturday 28 March from Llangollen. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.bulldog-rally.co.uk
Added: 20th March 2009 [permalink]
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