John Cope’s with the fiercest battle
Posted: March 1, 2012 12:17 PM
“Two seconds or two minutes, a win’s a win!” said Bury driver John Cope in Ramsey’s Market Square mid-afternoon on Saturday. The understatement couldn’t have been any more complete.
The Subaru WRC pilot and local co-driver Rob Fagg had just emerged victorious in an event that had four different winners really. It certainly had four different leaders. Nine seconds separated them (only four between the top three) after two legs spent trying to land a knock-out blow on one another over 95 miles of flat out motoring across the island. The battle was as utterly absorbing as the commitment was total.
I’ve been involved in rallying directly for over 20 years; following it for longer than that and this was the most thrilling event I’ve witnessed first hand at any level.
The local drivers took first blood on a damp Slieau Whallian stage on Friday night.
“That felt loose”, said Steve Colley, co-driven by Graham Fargher (Mitsubishi Evo VIII), at the South Barrule stop line. When told he was fastest by six seconds from Steve Quine over just four miles he retorted, “That’ll be why then!”
Sean Kelly and Emma Kennuagh (Evo VII) were third, but that soon became first after a storming run through Sean’s home 9.6 mile St Marks test, nine seconds faster than Colley, and fastest again on the next at Balladoole from Gansey to Castletown to really announce themselves on the scene.
Quine however dropped two minutes with turbo problems that would ultimately force his Evo VI out of the event before nightfall, while Martyn Jones and Dave Radcliffe were performing their regular giant-killing act in the Vauxhall Nova, tied for third with Cope.
An overshoot on the second St Marks run (SS5) cost Kelly the lead, Colley sneaking back in front by a single second overnight, with defending winners Dave Pattison/Andy Marchbank (Evo VI) only another ten back after a change suspension at first service at St Johns brought them two stage wins. Jones however found a ditch on Ballakew, with five minutes gone by the time he got out.
Cope was 42 seconds down after his own “flat in top” overshoot at the Southern 100 HQ chicane on SS6, but scythed into the deficit in the Curraghs first up on Saturday morning. Colley struggled on the soaked roads, handing the lead to Pattison. Worse befell Tim Collins/Paul McCann, rolling their Evo IX out in the final mile at Orrisdale after taking slick tyres, blocking the stage.
Colley hit back on Druidale to Sartfield as Cope spun, but then the charge nearly came to nought after a huge moment at Vatenan’s jump on Staarvey (SS9), where a lack of anti-lag also cost Kelly. “We were right out on the grass, I thought we were goners!” said the trials star as the pace showed.
After service Cope again swept through the Curraghs, fastest by 15 seconds to move from fourth to second, and finally took the lead when Pattison was slowed by a puncture on Druidale and then a lifting bonnet due to a loose pin on Staarvey (SS12).
Colley slipped back to fourth after a stall on SS10, when he knocked the car off in the compression at Broughjairg dip. It ultimately cost him the win.
As the crews arrived at the final service at Jurby, they were informed that the penultimate Currgahs stage was cancelled due to a lack of road closure time.
It left one final run over Druidale and Sartfield, Colley’s favourite stage. Cope led by seven seconds from Pattison, who certainly hadn’t given it up, while Colley was nine down on Kelly and declared it would be “all or nothing” in an attempt to make it onto the podium.
It was oh so nearly “all” and more!
Those spectating at Brandywell Cottage were left shaking their heads in disbelief at the mid-stage stopwatches. Colley went eight seconds faster than either of the previous runs, setting a time of 5:19.
“I didn’t have any more in me, if they’ve beaten me then fair play to them. It doesn’t get any better than that, on motor bikes, on anything!”
Cope arrived at the Sartfield finish next, in 5:36, Pattison 5:33 and Kelly 5:35. There were stunned faces as the scrambled maths took place. Colley had leapt from fourth to second, as Cope and Fagg held on by just two seconds for the driver’s first Manx win after almost a decade of trying.
“It was real pressure, but I was looking for Pattison, not Colley!” said Cope.
For his part Pattison was most downhearted. “It’s annoying, we came here to defend the win and it’s all self-inflicted problems that have cost us. We should have won it. Last night was a disaster at the start. I had a push on Druidale there but I just can’t get that stage into my head.”
There was enormous sympathy for Kelly, denied a top three finish he’d held right from the outset. “Nothing left, I got a bit out of control at the hairpin. It’s good we’re on the pace, but it’s disappointing”.
Also raising eyebrows were Kevin Davies/Dale Furniss, the Welsh road rally driver claiming fifth and best two wheel-drive on his first visit to the island, by just five seconds from Connor Corkill/Mark Perryman. The battle of the MkII Escorts was effectively decided by Collins crash; Davies got a clean run, Corkill a notional time after getting caught up behind it.
Cumbria’s Stuart Egglestone retained best front-wheel drive honours in seventh overall.
Full Results
Posted: March 1, 2012 12:16 PM
1
John Cope/Rob Fagg
(Subaru Impreza WRC)
1.32.17
2
Steve Colley/Graham Fargher
(Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
1.32.19
3
Dave Pattison/Andy Marchbank
(Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)
1.32.21
4
Sean Kelly/Emma Kennaugh
(Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7)
1.32.26
5
Kevin Davies/Dale Furmiss
(Ford Escort)
1.35.24
6
Connor Corkill/Mark Perryman
(Ford Escort RS2000)
1.35.29
7
Stuart Egglestone/Helen Hall
(Vauxhall Astra)
1.36.48
8
Kex Walker/Danni Matthews
(BMW 325)
1.38.08
9
Andy Bird/Richard Pulleyn
(Vauxhall Chevette)
1.38.39
10
Rob Ellison/Leigh Jones
(Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7)
1.39.16
Pattison out to re-assert authority on year opener
Posted: February 17, 2012 3:34 PM
Stockport driver Dave Pattison leads a 54 strong field into action for this weekends opening stage rally of the year, the Mann Construction-sponsored Chris Kelly Memorial event.
Pattison won last years renewal comprehensively, before crashing out of May’s Manx Telecom Rally at The Garey, incurring significant damage to his Ears Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo VI. Despite this being his first event since then, and having Andrew Marchbank on the notes in place of Paul Whittaker, such is the pace shown on two winning visits to the island over the last 18 months, he starts as clear favourite.
In the absence of reigning Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Champions Nigel and Imogen Cannell, the challenge to Pattison will be led by Steve Quine and Richard Skinner in a similar Evo VI. ‘Smiler’ showed good pace on last Autumn’s Manx Auto Sport Stages before gearbox gremlins intervened, and reported additional work on the car since should make the Adore team a real threat.
With Andrew Leece also an absentee, Graham Fargher switches to co-drive for Steve Colley, experience that could be a real boost to the trials great, still really on the rally comeback trail in his Evo VIII. A runners-up finish on that MAS event was followed by retirement after clouting a bank in horrendous conditions on the Duke Stages, but nonetheless the pace is clearly there, and the longest club event of the year at 106 stage miles offers time for it to shine.
Lancashire driver John Cope, with usual local man Rob Fagg on the notes, continues to chase a long overdue Manx victory in his Subaru WRC. He’s led this rally several times in the past and should be thereabouts, with the distance no problem to the Mull Rally regular.
Amongst the other ‘all-wheel drive’ crews to watch out for are Tim Collins (Evo IX), the up and coming Sean Kelly (VII) and Dave Corris (Escort WRC) who will hope finally to have the engine management sorted that have thwarted him over the last year.
The two-wheel drive battle looks set to be a real highlight, with giant-killer Martyn Jones (Vauxhall Nova), runner-up on the Duke Stages, heading the front-wheel drive crews, though he’ll be chased hard by the Vauxhall Astra’s of Stuart Egglestone and Andrew Holmes, as well as the Vauxhall Corsa of James Quirk, re-fettled after its November roll.
The crowd-pleasing rear-wheel drive category meanwhile pits the Ford Escort’s of top historic drivers Connor Corkill and Darren Moon up against highly rated debutant on the Manx roads, Kevin Davies (Escort), Kex Walker’s BMW, Adrian Kermode’s Porsche 911 and Andy Bird’s glorious Vauxhall Chevette.
The rally begins from St Johns at 7pm Friday for the opening six stages covering 35 miles, two runs each of Slieu Whallian/South Barrule, Eairy/St Marks/Ballanank and a stage at Balladoole near Castletown not used for 30 years.
The base switched to Jurby on Saturday with a 9:40am re-start for three runs of the Curraghs and Druidale/Sartfield and two over Staarvey/Peel Coast Road, before the finish in Market Square, Ramsey at 2pm.
Entries Received:
Posted: January 13, 2012 9:32 PM
Richard & Andy Barnard - Subaru Impreza N8
Andrew Leece & Graham Fargher - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
John Richardson & Eric Wilcockson - Ford Escort MKII
Paul & Michael McEvoy - Ford Escort MKI
Will Rand & David Oliver - Vauxhall Astra
Stuart Egglestone & Helen Hall - Vauxhall Astra
Rob Ellison & Leigh Jones - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
John Cope & Rob Fagg - Subaru Impreza WRC
Malcolm Jones & Eifon Thomas - Ford Escort MKII
Kevin Davies & Dale Furniss - Ford Escort MKII
Andrew Bird & Richard Pulleyn - Vauxhall Chevette
Chris Kelly Memorial Rally offers the ultimate kick-start to your 2012 rally year!
Posted: January 1, 2012 10:19 PM
It may not be Christmas yet, never mind New Year, but the excitement is already building for the MANN Construction sponsored Chris Kelly Memorial Stages, the first chance for rally crews in 2012 to hit the famous Manx stages!
Mark off February 17th and 18th in your e-calendar now….
…because with deals available from just £652 including entry fees, ferry and hotel costs, it has to be the ultimate way to start your rallying year! (*)
Entries are now open with the publication of regulations by the organisers, Manx Auto Sport, for whom it also starts their 50th Anniversary celebrations.
They confirm that their event forms a qualifying round of two championships:
Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship (**)
AWNCC Stage Rally Championship
In addition to championship contenders from on and off island, many UK crews use the event as an extended test given its multiple use of stages, including last year winner Dave Patterson in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 and John Stone in the fearsome Skoda WRC.
The event retains its traditional Friday night and Saturday daytime schedule, making for a real challenge. The opening evening is set to feature six tests, two runs over each of three stages. Saturday has a further eight, three runs on two tests and two attempts on another. There are some classics and new roads alike, keep watching for news on them in the next few weeks!
In total the rally features over 105 stage miles on just six separate stages, helping to keep reconnaissance to a minimum. Each day will feature centralised service, at St Johns for the opening night before relocating to Jurby motordrome on Saturday.
To help further to keep competitors costs to a minimum, there are two recce options available to crews, either the weekend before, 11th & 12th February, or the Thursday/Friday 16th & 17th February.
Scrutineering and documentation is also on Thursday evening (16th) with officials sign-up the night before.
The social aspect of Isle of Man rallying is always an important element, and the after-rally party and prize presentation will take place at the Villa Marina Arcade in the middle of Douglas promenade.
The event offers an ideal testing opportunity for crews preparing for their years programme, not least the REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship that begins just three weeks later and returns to the island for the Manx National Rally in May.
Similarly for crews who have long wanted to take the plunge and compete on the island but haven’t yet done so, do it, you won’t regret it!
Throw in television coverage on Motors TV’s Special Stage programme, filmed by MC-Video, and what else do you need for a complete rally weekend?
For all the information you need to be a part of the action head to the club website where the regulations and entry form await you.
Overseas crews seeking further information can also contact 07624 480101 / +44 7624 480101
The message is loud and clear – come and join us for some of the best tarmac rallying in the world!
(*) Standard Entry Fee £325 available until 3rd February.
£652 based on 2 nights hotel stay for two people, plus van and trailer ferry return and entry fee.
(**) The Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship is open to all entrants to events, both on and off-island based, and even better - there is no registration fee!
Regulations / Details:
Regulations / Club Website
Posted: January 1, 2012 10:15 PM
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most