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Border Counties - 18 Mar 06Posted: March 30, 2006 12:34 PM - 6535 Hits
Round 2 - 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
Posted: March 30, 2006 12:34 PM
Strabane’s Colin Britton slipped and slided his way to an excellent 14th overall and first in category at the snow swept Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally earlier this month, round one of the Total Motorsports Solutions 206 Cup. Driving his Autosport Technology and AB Contracts sponsored Peugeot, with stand-in co-driver Kirsty Riddick on the notes, Colin entered the Scottish event determined to give his championship campaign a boost. Round one disappointment saw Colin’s car succumb with engine problems while leading the event, and victory at round two was anything but certain with severe weather conditions playing havoc. “It was a case of getting to the finish,” Colin said after the event. “On one stage I counted about 20 cars that had gone off the road. It was unreal! We started off very cautious, trying to get used to the conditions. Then the second stage was cancelled because there was so much snow, and on the third there must have been about six inches of snow so we took it very easy!” Colin’s cautious approach paid off as one by one, other competitors dropped like flies. Snow tyres were needed on most stages and very few crews had access to them. “The main problem was the long straights with the chicanes in the middle,” Colin recalled. “We had to brake about half a mile before the chicanes to try and get stopped in time!” Colin’s superb drive was thwarted on stages five and six, when his windscreen washer broke leaving him with virtually no visibility, then an altercation with one of those dreaded chicanes almost put him out of the rally. “We bent a wishbone and steering arm,” Colin said. “But we only lost five seconds to our competitors and Gerry McGarrity’s service crew fixed her up in service. I knew it was going to be a case of survival so we took it easy over the last few tests.” Despite his caution, somehow Colin managed to set fastest time in his category by 31 seconds! It was enough to grab the category lead and the crew coasted home to the finish with victory, and a maximum points haul, firmly in their grasp. “After what happened, I couldn’t believe it!” Colin enthused. “In some places, we were only doing 40mph and spectators were waving at us to slow us down because someone was off the road. I thought to myself ‘how can I go much slower’! But we’ve got our championship campaign off the ground now so I’m looking forward to the next event!” With a good result behind him, Colin is hoping to enter the Circuit of Ireland in a bid to get up to speed on tarmac before round three of the Total Motorsports Solutions 206 Cup. The Roush Manx Rally, which takes place from 5-6 May, sees crews resume their battles on the Isle of Man’s infamous tarmac roads. DODD DOES THE BUSINESS IN THE SNOW Former double ANCRO Champion Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery made sure the long drive up from the south coast was worthwhile by taking victory on today’s Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. Driving the www.flitewise.com Hyundai Accent WRC on round two of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship the Poole driver overcame gearbox problems and a snowbound Kielder Forest to take a 25 second victory over 2005 winners Barry Johnson and Stewart Merry (Subaru WRC) who in turn ended up 43 seconds to the good over the Subaru WRC of Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield. With treacherous conditions greeting crews making snow tyres the popular choice, Dodd grabbed the early advantage on SS1 before double Scottish Champion Johnson responded on stages two and three before another charge by Dodd, complete with new gearbox after servicing, saw him hit the front again on stage four. Meanwhile the winners of round one in Bournemouth, Craig Middleton and Robin Hernaman (Hyundai Accent WRC) were well in contention until an off on stage five saw them finally retire as the battle between the leading crews intensified. After SS7 Dodd held the advantage by a single second ahead of Johnson and he consolidated that with a super drive through the nine mile Hindhope as Johnson struck problems. Going into the final test Johnson’s Subaru was suffering a major oil leak and with co driver Stewart Merry physically pumping oil into the engine from the passenger seat throughout the seven mile stage the pair eventually made it to the end much to their relief. “I think it’s a case of saying congratulations to everyone who got to the finish today” said a delighted Dodd. “It’s the first event we have finished this year and I am delighted to get some points on the board after our retirement on Rallye Sunseeker.” Johnson meanwhile commented “At least we’re here as going into the final stage I didn’t think we’d make it. Its been a difficult day and I am a bit disappointed as I feel we could have won today.” Third place Duckworth was well poised to challenge for victory only to be robbed by a puncture on the penultimate stage. “After not finishing up here last year and not scoring in Bournemouth we needed a result and I’m happy enough with third place in the conditions” said the Towcester driver. Fourth up was Steve Perez and new co driver Steve Harris who were out in the older version of the Ford Focus WRC as the new model is en route to Rallye Catalunya where they are competing in it next week. In the fiercely fought Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup Tony Thompson and co driver Jon Dunning took victory ahead of fellow County Durham crew Stephen Petch Jnr and Michael Wilkinson with early leaders Tim Pearcey and Paul McGuire ending up third after gearbox problems on the final stage. The Subaru Group N Trophy supported by Prodrive saw victory go the way of Wyn Humphries and co driver Mark Lewis who were the only pairing to see the Jedburgh finish ramp whilst in the Total Motorsport Solutions Peugeot 206 Cup, Ulsterman Colin Britton and co driver Kirsty Riddick took the win ahead of Miles Johnston with Declan Magee in third. Going into the third round of the series, the RBS International Manx Rally, the joint MSA Gravel Championship leaders are Barry Johnson and Steve Perez whilst Humphries heads the Subarus with Thompson and Magee leading the Mitsubishi and Peugeot Championships respectively. Final Results 1. Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1:14:27.0 2. Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:14:52.3 3. Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:15:35.3 4. Steve Perez/Steve Harris (Ford Focus WRC) 1:15:57.8 5. Paul Wedgebury/Neil Dashfield (Subaru Impreza) 1:17:43.8 6. Tony Thompson/Jon Dunning (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8) 1:17:49.0 7. Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7) 1:17:58.9 8. Tim Pearcey/Paul McGuire (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) 1:18:01.1 9. Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6) 1:18:14.8 10. Anthony Willmington/Andy White (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6) 1:19:59.2 Full details on Event Website: PRE EVENT NEWS
14/03/06 Round two of the 2006 MSA Gravel Rally Championship takes place this Saturday (March 18th) as competitors head for the quaint Scottish borders town of Jedburgh for the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. Following last year’s successful inauguration into the ANCRO series, the route once again encompasses the infamous and unique forest tracks of ‘Killer’ Kielder forest and if the drama of twelve months ago is to be repeated, then the 2006 event will surely be a cracker. After an exciting and close-fought opening round on Rallye Sunseeker last month, the leading protagonists will again be battling it out for supremacy and with a couple of leading contenders not seeing the finish ramp in Bournemouth, there is still all to play for on the Northernmost round of the seven rally series, of which the competitors best five scores count. Winners twelve months ago, on their way to regaining the Scottish Championship in 2005, Barry Johnson and co driver Stewart Merry will once again be the men to beat in their ex Petter Solberg Subaru WRC. The County Durham driver finished in fourth place on Rallye Sunseeker and will see the fast flowing tracks of Northumberland as his chance to get back in the title race. Chasing him home last year were the crew who went on to become the 2005 champions, Paul Bird and Ian Windress who got their title defence off to a good start by claiming third in Bournemouth. But despite winning last weekend’s non-championship Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District, Bird is a major doubt for this weekend’s event as the Subaru WRC he has been using needs a major gearbox rebuild and it could well not be ready in time. No such problems for the winners of round one as the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing of Welshman Craig Middleton and co driver Robin Hernaman will be looking to make it two out of two as they head north. Middleton overcame a number of problems to record a half minute victory on the South Coast and another win this weekend would certainly ensure the rest are playing catch up heading to the next round in the Isle of Man. Runner up in Bournemouth, 2004 champion Steve Perez has engaged the services of Steve Harris in his bid for glory this weekend. Never one to have much luck in the Keilder complex, Perez flies straight away from the finish to start the recce for Rallye Catalunya on Monday meaning a busy time for the VK man. Two crews hoping to put the misery of Rallye Sunseeker behind them are former champions Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC) who along with Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield (Subaru WRC) who will aim to get some points on the board this weekend. Dodd finished third last year whereas Duckworth retired and both cannot be discounted for overall honours yet. In the support classes, the battles are sure to be just as intense with Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup round one winners Anthony Willmington and his co-driver Andy White hoping to repeat their resounding victory over second placed Tony Thompson and Jon Dunning who, it has to be said, were dead last after the opening night’s stages in Bournemouth, so are expected to make a better fist of it this time. Scottish hopes lie with Alistair Tough and Alistair McKay who once again square off with Rob Smith and Alun Cook, whom they beat on the opening round of the new-for-2006 Subaru Trophy, whilst Jamie Hickman along with co driver Tom Ward hope for another victory in the Total Motorsport Solutions Peugeot 206 Super Cup. The first of the 103 crews leaves Abbey Place in Jedburgh at 08.30 with cars scheduled to return for a ceremonial finish around 17.00hrs and prize giving from 19.30 onwards. Full Entry list and further details on Event Website:
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Border Counties
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