Millbrook Stages Bedfordshire (asphalt) - 26 May 08

BTRDA ASPHALT RALLY SERIES

Posted: May 27, 2008 4:08 PM

MARK WELCH (Ford Escort Cosworth) contested the second round of the 2008 Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series, the Tamdown Millbrook Stages Rally, on a very wet Spring Bank Holiday Monday (26th May), but overcame the conditions to take 4th place overall and maximum points to open his account in the best possible way.

An untroubled run saw Welch finish the day a minute-and-a-half in front of the Toyota Celica GT4 of GARY LE COADOU/PAUL HOLLINGHAM who also managed to stay out of trouble during the intermittent downpours that so typify UK Bank Holidays! Gary is now 1st= in the overall Drivers’ points table, while Paul has top spot in the Co-drivers’ section all to himself at the one-third stage.

The current owners of the Ford Focus STI that led the 2007 BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series for a while, CHRIS JONES/RICHARD WILLIAMS, revelled in the conditions and were rewarded with a Top Six finish for their efforts. Chris shares first place with Le Coadou in the race for the Drivers’ title and Richard is second in the Co-drivers’ points, just one behind Hollingham.

It is perhaps fitting to mention at this point that BTRDA Series leaders after the Tour of Epynt, CHRIS DAVIS/BRANDON PARKER, were holding 3rd place overall in their Darrian T90 at this year’s Millbrook before an accident hospitalised the driver. He has been diagnosed with a broken rib and a damaged vertebrae and it goes without saying will be out of the sport for a while. All those involved with the series wish him a speedy recovery and hope that it won’t be long before we see him out and about once again.

ELIOT DUNMORE/SUSANNA KENNISTON took a Top 10 finish in their Subaru Impreza, despite appearing at the Service ‘In’ control with tyres that were, to put it mildly, past their best!

Meanwhile, 12th overall in a 1300cc Ford Escort earned GRAHAM MUTER the John Price Rallying ‘Star Drive’ salver on the day. He and co-driver STEPHEN PRINCE went on to take their second consecutive class win in the BTRDA Series and currently lead their class by a comfortable margin.

TIM SEIPEL/MARTIN HAGGETT were next up in their MG ZR, not only taking a class win on the event, but also maximum class points. A mere eight seconds behind them were PAUL BOXALL/TERESA BUTLER (Peugeot 205). Boxall admitted to preferring the stages when it was raining – he was not to be disappointed! GARY BARLOW/NICK CHAPMAN are probably better known for their exploits on gravel in the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series but, more power to them, they have opted to have a go on the ‘black stuff’ as well this season. 2nd in class in their Vauxhall Nova was a very creditable first attempt and we look forward to seeing them back with us again shortly.

SIMON SELBY has returned this year in his Austin Seven and finished Millbrook less than a second behind Barlow/Chapman. He described tyre choice for the rally as a ‘nightmare’. Every time he went out to do a stage, he found himself on the wrong ones, making the end result even more impressive.

PAUL KENDRICK/ANTON BIRD were a model of consistency last year in their Talbot Sunbeam, and the 2008 season has started in similar vein. Having not been out in the car since last November, they were understandably short of ‘match practice’ but a fine run to 2nd in class sees the West Midlands crew continuing where they left off.

NIGEL KILLERBY/COLIN WATSON had an off day in their Mitsubishi Lancer but, nevertheless, a finish sees them now in 3rd place in the four-wheel drive Class S.

CRAIG JOSE/CHRIS HOWELLS (Peugeot 205), PETE DONNACHIE/PHIL ROWLEY (Subaru Impreza) and SARA WILLIAMS (Honda Civic Type ‘R’) finished line astern while a maximum on the opening stage left GEORGE COOKE/SANDY WOODLEY (Citroen Saxo) with a mountain to climb for the rest of the day.

Whether it was down to the weather is a matter for conjecture, but the retirement rate on an event as tough as Millbrook was surprisingly low. Of the Asphalt Series contenders, DAVID JONES was first to go when his Lancer’s rear diff. broke on the third stage and JOHN HARLAND/PAUL PRICE were next to head for home after their Darrian T90 GTR’s gearbox cried ‘enough’.

The outright winners of the Tamdown Millbrook Stages Rally were former MSA Asphalt Champions STEVE HENDY/ALED DAVIES in their Ford Focus WRC.

The next round of the Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series is the Rally of the Midlands (20th/21st June) and, with 17 points separating the top eight drivers, a fascinating battle is taking shape.

Full Results

Posted: May 27, 2008 3:46 PM

Download National Rally Results

Download Clubman Rally Results

Entry List Available

Posted: May 19, 2008 7:08 PM

West Essex Car Club (Millbrook National Rally)

• 2008 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship & BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series.

BTRDA ASPHALT RALLY SERIES PREVIEW

Posted: May 15, 2008 1:33 PM

Following the unfortunate cancellation of the Tour of Cornwall, contenders for the Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series have had something of an extended break since their last event. The wait is now over as we look forward to the Tamdown Millbrook Stages Rally which is running on its traditional Spring Bank Holiday Monday date (26th May). Not only does the event boast a full entry but, in BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series terms, there is virtually a full house as well!

BTRDA Series leaders following a Top 10 finish on the Tour of Epynt, CHRIS DAVIS/BRANDON PARKER, return to Millbrook with their Darrian T90 after an excellent run at the Bedfordshire Test Track in 2007. A repeat performance wouldn’t go amiss for the Worcestershire crew, but life is never that simple!

The current owners of the Ford Focus STI that led the series for a while last year, CHRIS JONES/RICHARD WILLIAMS, are 2nd in the points table, while GARY LE COADOU, with co-driver PAUL HOLLINGHAM, is 3rd in his Toyota Celica GT4. Prior to the final round of the 2007 Series, Gary was the only driver in a position to prevent Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt emerging from the Otterburn Ranges as Champions. However, ‘one of those days’ prevented a serious challenge.

GRAHAM MUTER/STEPHEN PRINCE squeezed every ounce of power out of their 1300cc Ford Escort on Epynt to take a class win and 4th place overall points while, in the up to 2-litre class, JOHN HARLAND/PAUL PRICE (Darrian T90), SARA WILLIAMS (Honda Civic Type ‘R’), PAUL BOXALL/TERESA BUTLER (Peugeot 205) and series sponsors RICHARD & PAT EGGER (Ford Escort MkI) are putting considerable variety into the up to 2-litre category.

Class S, for four-wheel drive cars, is also very popular this year – Jones and Le Coadou occupy the top two places and are joined by the Mitsubishi Lancer of NIGEL KILLERBY/COLIN WATSON.

PETE DONNACHIE/PHIL ROWLEY (Subaru Impreza) return after an all-too-brief outing on Epynt ended with an ‘off’ on the opening stage and other BTRDA Series contenders who failed to reach the finish included SIMON SELBY, whose Mini went out with low oil pressure, and CRAIG JOSE/CHRIS HOWELLS were on the final stage when one of their Peugeot 205’s driveshafts broke.

Millbrook sees a number of crews starting out on their campaigns, not least of whom will be PAUL KENDRICK/ANTON BIRD whose 1600cc Talbot Sunbeam was a model of consistency throughout last year, taking its West Midlands based crew to runners-up spot in the BTRDA Series.

In order of receipt of entries, the remaining BTRDA Series contenders heading for Millbrook over Spring Bank Holiday weekend are :

MARK WELCH/TBA Ford Escort Cosworth
TIM SEIPEL/MARTIN HAGGETT MG ZR
COLIN HAGGETT/Helen Thompson Darrian T90
ELIOT DUNMORE/SUSANNA KENNISTON Subaru impreza
GARY BARLOW/NICK CHAPMAN Vauxhall Nova
GEORGE COOKE/ALEX WOODLEY Citroen Saxo
DAVID JONES/Paul Sandels Mitsubishi Lancer EVO
STUART DEELEY/TBA Lotus Europa

Scrutineering & Documentation for the Tamdown Millbrook Stages Rally take place on Sunday 25th May while the event itself, which consists of 10 special stages totalling 60 miles, begins at 8.30am on Bank Holiday Monday.

List of Entries to Date:

Posted: April 14, 2008 5:19 PM

West Essex Car Club (Millbrook National Rally)

• 2008 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship & BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series.

Regulations available.

Posted: January 28, 2008 10:41 PM

West Essex Car Club (Millbrook National Rally)

• 2008 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship & BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series.