Crews set for battle in round three of Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship
Five crews will battle it out for the honours in round three of the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship, the SMC Stages, on Sunday (30 March).
Paul Drinkall and Roy Brown are the top seeds at number 18 in their Porsche 911 for the Weeton Camp-based tarmac event with David Marshall and Chris Hudson entered in their Ford RS1600 at number 26.
Neil and Moira Sawyer start at number 35 in their TR7 V8 followed hot on the heels by Martin Knapp and Elaine Duers in a TR7 16v with David Archer and Mike Dawson at number 49 in their Mini Cooper.
Richard Pocklington, managing director of Motoscope, said: "Round three promises to be a tight battle with a couple of the crews seeded close together and the race for the various NHRC honours should begin to hot up."
So far 22 competitors have registered for the NHRC, which is affiliated to the HRCR (Historic Rally Car Register).
Northallerton-based rally equipment and car preparation company Motoscope began sponsoring the NHRC this year.
From their shop and workshop on the Standard Way Industrial Estate in Northallerton, Motoscope offer a rolling road service, parts and repairs for both competition and road cars.
In addition to title sponsor Motoscope; Tyres South Shore will also be supporting the series by providing tyres to championship winners on events as well as being available to supply tyres.
http://www.hrcrnorthernchampionship.co.uk/
Added: 27th March 2008 [permalink]
Second round of Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship gets underway on Robin Hood Forest Stages Rally
The second round of the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship (NHRC) got underway this weekend (8-9 March) with the Sherwood Forest-based Robin Hood Forest Stages Rally.
So far 22 competitors have registered for the NHRC, which is affiliated to the HRCR (Historic Rally Car Register), and 15 were in action across the forest gravel stages of the Robin Hood event.
Darren Moon and John McNichol, fresh from victory in round one last month, once again set a blistering pace as they finished fourth overall and third in class D5 in the two-day National A event in their Mk2 Ford Escort and claimed the NHRC honours.
Jim Clark/Martin Knapp and Paul Mankin/Des Bell were all in action in class B4 in Ford Lotus Cortinas. Mankin and Bell finished eighth overall in the historic category and third in class with Clark and Knapp 10th overall in the category and fourth in class.
Mike Robinson was co-driving for James Slaughter in a Mk1 Ford Escort and came home 21st in the post historic category and seventh in class C3 after a loose plug lead hampered them on stage five.
In the classic category, Pickering crew Steve Magson and Geoff Atkinson were in action in their Opel Ascona but were unfortunate as they retired on stage three on Saturday night with a suspected blown head gasket.
In the Robin Hood Historic Trophy Rally Paul Drinkall/Roy Brown, David Marshall/Chris Hudson and Adam and Ian Tomlinson were all competing.
Marshall and Hudson had a long battle with the Porsche 911 of Drinkall and Brown who eventually won with over a three-minute margin as they finished second overall in the post historic category and second in class C4. Marshall and Hudson claimed third overall and first in class C5 in their Ford Escort RS1600 whilst the Tomlinson's retired on stage six with engine problems on their MG Midget.
Mike Collins, championship co-ordinator of the NHRC, said: "It was great to see more NHRC competitors out on the Robin Hood and especially experiencing some close battles with one another.
"The Robin Hood generated further interest in the series and we're hoping to have more crews out on the next round."
The NHRC has been running for two years and landed its first major title sponsor in the form of Northallerton-based rally equipment and car preparation company Motoscope this year.
The 2008 Motoscope NHRC consists of eight rounds across a mix of asphalt and gravel in the north of England and Scottish Borders with the best five scores to count.
It is open to all cars that comply with the MSA's requirements for historic rally cars in classes H1, H2 and H3 and only wheels and tyres used in that period are allowed.
In addition to title sponsor Motoscope; Tyres South Shore will also be supporting the series by providing tyres to championship winners on events as well as being available to supply tyres.
The next round will be the Weeton Camp-based SMC Stages on Sunday 30 March.
Website at: http://www.hrcrnorthernchampionship.co.uk/.
Added: 10th March 2008 [permalink]
Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship gets underway on Riponian Stages Rally
The Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship (NHRC) got underway on Sunday (10 February) with the season-opening North Yorkshire-based Riponian Stages Rally.
So far 20 competitors have registered for the NHRC, which is affiliated to the HRCR (Historic Rally Car Register), and four crews took to the stages on Sunday's opening round.
Darren Moon and John McNichol took the honours in the NHRC as they finished an impressive eighth overall and first in the historic class and class D5 on the 44-mile Thirsk-based forest gravel event in their Mk2 Ford Escort.
Carlisle driver Paul Drinkall and Orpington co-driver Roy Brown were the only other crew to make it to the finish line as they came home 25th overall, second in the historic class and first in the NHRC class C4 in their Porsche 911 and were over three minutes behind Moon/McNichol.
Pickering crew Steve Magson and Geoff Atkinson failed to finish the event and probably had the worst luck of the day as they retired ahead of the penultimate stage with a water pump problem on their Opel Ascona. Prior to their retirement they were 16th overall.
York driver Tom Hewick and Chesterfield co-driver Sam Collis made it to the finish in their Mk2 Ford Escort but were OTL (over time limit) after they took a stage maximum and had a problem in stage 11, Pry Rigg 2. They were 15th overall before they suffered the issue.
Meanwhile, Richard Pocklington, managing director of series sponsor Motoscope, and his co-driver Dan Loveday, who also works for Motoscope, did not start the event due to illness.
Mike Collins, championship co-ordinator of the NHRC, said: "It's great that the season's now started and we have our first winners on the leaderboard.
"It's a shame that only two of the four crews made it round but we've had some positive feedback on the event. We're now looking forward to the next round, the Robin Hood Historic Trophy, which we hope to have more crews out on as we've had lots of interest in the series."
The NHRC has been running for two years and landed its first major title sponsor in the form of Northallerton-based rally equipment and car preparation company Motoscope this year.
The 2008 Motoscope NHRC consists of eight rounds across a mix of asphalt and gravel in the north of England and Scottish Borders with the best five scores to count.
It is open to all cars that comply with the MSA's requirements for historic rally cars in classes H1, H2 and H3 and only wheels and tyres used in that period are allowed.
In addition to title sponsor Motoscope; Tyres South Shore will also be supporting the series by providing tyres to championship winners on events as well as being available to supply tyres.
The next round will be the Worksop-based Robin Hood Historic Trophy on Sunday 9 March.
Website at: http://www.hrcrnorthernchampionship.co.uk/.
Added: 12th February 2008 [permalink]
