Swansea Bay - 22 Jul 06

Posted: July 16, 2006 3:03 PM

Winner of the rally in 2003, Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield start as one of the favourites for overall victory on the Port Talbot Motor Club event – whose plans have been thrown into turmoil by the arrival of some rare nesting birds in the huge Resolven Forest complex meaning some of the originally planned tracks cannot be used - but ‘Wilmo’ along with his map-man Andy White cannot be discounted especially as they look to increase their advantage at the head of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup.

Neither crew has taken a win to date and they will be looking to put that statistic right, especially as there are two scores to drop this season and the same can be said for the battle for third between Londoner Richard Gower (Hyundai Accent WRC) and Subaru Group N Trophy leader Wyn Humphries from Aberdyfi who are tied on 54 points.

Mixing pain and pleasure in equal proportions this season has been the Hyundai Accent WRC driver Craig Middleton whereby the Llandrindod Wells hotshot has taken victory on Rallye Sunseeker and also last time out on the Severn Valley Stages but retirements on the Border Counties and Manx events has meant that he needs to score strongly in all remaining rounds.

Also non-finishing in two of the four events means that former champion and two time event winner Marcus Dodd (Hyundai Accent WRC) and last year’s series runner up Barry Johnson (Subaru WRC) – who missed out on overall victory on last year’s event by just two seconds - also can ill afford another non finish and both have a good track record in the South Wales forests which will be used later in the year on Rally GB.

Scotsman Alistair Tough and Durham’s Tony Thompson make the long trip south to challenge for honours once again in the Subaru and Mitsubishi Championships respectively and with the absence once more of 2005 champion Paul Bird who is busy working with his British Superbike team at Oulton Park the same weekend, it will be down to champion of 2004 Steve Perez to challenge for honours having also non-scored in two events in his Ford Focus WRC.

Harrogate’s Miles Johnston hopes to increase his lead in the TMS Peugeot 206 Super Cup while Willmington heads the Innovation Motorsports Challenge Cup and in the ANCRO Clubman’s Championship, Maidstone’s Nick Kelly (Ford Escort) enjoys a six point advantage over the Peugeot 206 of Newport Pagnell driver Mike Winfield with Ulsterman Martin Laverty third in his Peugeot.

Comprising qualifying rounds for no less than seventeen championships, including the Fiesta Sporting Trophy, Eurorallye Cup and the Hankook BMW Rear Wheel Drive Challenge amongst others, the first of the ANCRO National competitors leaves the ceremonial start at 08.30 and after around 70 miles in the classic Welsh forests, return to the finish around 17.30.

Full Entry list on:

Swansea Bay Rally

• 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship