Grizedale Stages Rally - DATE CHANGE (Sat) 9 Dec 06

Posted: December 14, 2006 1:41 PM

---

Wilson wins Grizedale Rally
Cumbrian rally driver Matthew Wilson rounded off his 2006 season in fine fashion with a win aboard his Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC06 in the Coniston-based Coppermines Grizedale Stages Rally on Saturday 9th December.

Wilson and co-driver Scott Martin were the quickest over all six stages of the 42 competitive mile event using the same car which was used by Wilson in the previous weekend’s Wales Rally GB.

“It was a great event and it’s good to end the season with a trophy,” said Wilson. “I was amazed with how much we were leading by after the first two stages so after that we just cruised it round.”

With the car having contested one of the world’s most gruelling rallies the weekend before, and put through use in the week, it didn’t start the event in quite the same fashion that it would a World Championship event.

Said Wilson, “It was certainly eventful as we had no dash, no centre diff and no paddle shift as the car had been used on Wales Rally GB then on three drive days in the week – it’s definitely ready for a rebuild now!”

Wilson’s 2006 rally season started in January with the Monte Carlo Rally and incorporated 15 other rallies around the world. In April in Rally Argentina Wilson became the youngest ever driver to score a drivers’ championship point and a fastest stage time on an FIA World Rally Championship round.

In the WRC he has been co-driven by Michael Orr, but for the Grizedale he was reunited with his former co-driver, Scott Martin.

“It was fantastic to be back in the car with Matt,” said Martin, who co-drove with Barry Clark this season to take the FIA Junior World Rally Championship Rookie title.

“Grizedale is a pretty difficult event for any co-driver as it’s corner after corner and I jumped from a GpN Fiesta ST into the Focus WRC, but everything worked so well. We did have hydraulic problems which meant Matt had to shift gear manually, but even then we were going quicker than everyone else. It was the perfect way to end the year.”

Wilson is now looking forward to his next season in the World Rally Championship where he no longer will be contesting the majority of the events for the first time.

“There are only two events next year that I haven’t done before, Norway and Portugal,” said Wilson. “And there’s even the novelty of going to Ireland where I’ll be the one with experience compared to most of the drivers which makes a refreshing change. I can’t wait.”

The 2007 FIA World Rally Championship begins on January 19th with Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo.

---

Full Results and Photos:

• Grizedale Stages

---

PRE EVENT NEWS

• Furness District Motor Club Ltd, organisers of the Coppermines Cottages - Grizedale Stages Rally, wish to announce a change of date for the 2006 rally.
  It will now be running on; SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER 2006.
• Enter on line.
• Prelimerary Details
• Date change to 11th November

---

08/10/06
Furness District Motor Club Ltd, organisers of the Coppermines Cottages - Grizedale Stages Rally, wish to announce a change of date for the 2006 rally.
It will now be running on; SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER 2006.
The event will also return to its usual format with 1st car leaving the start in Coniston at 09:30hrs, with the last car due to finish before darkness.

A number of factors have prompted the organisers to make this decision, but primarily the relative lack of entries to date. The major factor in competitors not entering would appear to be the unpopularity of the original November date, maybe combined with running partially in the dark.

We are currently running at 30% of last years’ entries. With around 3 weeks to the closing date, we might still receive enough entries to make it viable. However, the organisers felt that the consequences of not reaching that number – and with costs for forest rallying as they are, it’s a high number! - means that it is better to be pro-active and offer everyone plenty of notice of a change.

We don't want cancel the event, that risks losing this rally in the longer term, one of only two stage events in the National Park. Hopefully this change will suit the plans of a good number of competitors.

The change of date for 2006, away from it’s traditional first week in December, was prompted by a clash of dates with Rally GB, leaving Grizedale Stages short of mandatory key personnel. Ironically the event wouldn't have got started without running on the back of the Rally GB (or RAC Rally as it was then) back in 1988!! When we opted for the November date back in February this year, the 9th was ruled out as an option due a date clash. That event has also now moved, free-ing up the 9th December for us to be able to use.

Most things remain unchanged from the event originally planned; The route and mileages remain the same; 42 stage miles and 35 road miles. Entry fee @ £350. Central servicing and scrutineering at Park Coppice, just outside the host town of Coniston. The main change is the start moving forward to 09:30hrs. Last car due to finish at 15:53hrs. Revised regulations and entry form are available from the website. The online entry system is also still available. Competitors who have already entered have already been offered guaranteed places on the new date or full refunds.

---

14/09/06
Enter on line

• Grizedale Stages

---

16/07/06
44 stage miles, Just 41 road miles
Central Servicing
12 noon start from Coniston
Last 2 stages in darkness - bring your lights!!
Scrutineering and signing-on available Friday
and Saturday After rally party

---

15/01/06
Due to other event(s) on the same date. Grizedale Stages Rally has been moved to:
Sat 11th November 2006

More details nearer the event.

• Grizedale Stages