Stunning finish for Cave and Cole on Richard Burns Memorial
Posted: August 18, 2009 6:44 PM
Rally sensation Tom Cave and TV’s Neil Cole finished an outstanding 14th overall and sixth in class on this weekend’s Richard Burns Memorial Rally. The result was all the more creditable, as this was only Cole’s second rally co-driving and the pair faced far faster machinery than their Group N Ford Fiesta on the single-venue rally at RAF Marham.
The event was created to honour the memory of the former World Rally Champion and raise finds for the Richard Burns Foundation and the Michael Park Fund, charities set up following the deaths of two of rallying’s most likeable characters. Marham was chosen as it was the location for Burn’s memorable flight in an RAF Tornado several years ago.
The event featured eight stages run over two days at the air base, the only rally to run on a fully-operational RAF base. Tom and Neil settled into the event well in their DMS Motorsport-run Fiesta and suffered no problems on their way to the finish line after two days of competition.
While not preparing for the stages, Cole was busy filming the event for a video diary, which will be posted onto both his and Tom’s websites and potentially, feature in digital TV channel Dave’s coverage of the FIA World Rally Championship in the near future.
The excitement clearly built over the weekend, with Tom and Neil heading into the final stage of the event looking to snatch a place or two, thanks to a tiny gap between them and the car ahead and a high attrition rate on the abrasive and high speed concrete sections.
In the end, the pair arrived at the finish of the event in 14th place overall out of 51 finishers and sixth in class C (1601cc – 2000cc) out of 20 finishers.
Commenting after the event, Tom said: “It’s been a great weekend; Neil was really good on the notes and has been very professional. The car has worked perfectly – Davies Motorsport did a great job getting the car ready and we’ve had no problems at all. It’s only my third tarmac rally and I’m very pleased with the result we got.
“I’ve never done a single-venue event before and it’s been a brilliant weekend. The atmosphere has been great, the organisers have been very helpful and it is all for a good cause, so I’m delighted to have been part of it.”
Speaking after his second rally as co-driver, Neil said: “It’s been great fun. The atmosphere is fantastic, it’s a very well run event and the cooperation with the RAF to have one of the biggest live air-bases in the country give up is weekend is incredible. There are already these huge skid-marks on the runway from the Tornados taking off and landing, then we come along and add our little ones. Great fun.
“I think one thing is obvious from this weekend – Tom is very talented. These guys who rally as a hobby and as enthusiasts are looking at Tom, who’s not even 18 yet, his braking points and his lines and these are the lines of a professional. I think Tom’s potential is huge and I’ve definitely learned a lot. I only made a few mistakes and we’ve only been on the grass a couple of times and we didn’t properly hit any obstacles. I really enjoyed it.”
Summarising a weekend competing on a live air base, Tom said: “I’d never thought about a career in the military before this weekend but I have to say, seeing the planes up close and the Red Arrows fly-by, maybe piloting a fighter could be the only thing to rival driving a rally car…”
Results
Posted: August 17, 2009 7:46 AM
Entry List
Posted: August 13, 2009 9:28 PM
Tom Cave enters Richard Burns Memorial Rally with TV’s Neil Cole
Posted: July 29, 2009 9:55 AM
The 17 year-old rally sensation from Aberdovey, Tom Cave, will compete on next month’s Richard Burns Memorial Rally at RAF Marham in Norfolk. The youngster will be co-driven by the face of the FIA World Rally Championship on UK digital TV channel Dave, Neil Cole, as the pair aims to raise awareness for the event, which supports the Richard Burns Foundation charity.
Competing on the event was Cole’s idea, suggested to Tom when he was interviewed by Neil on Rally Poland, Tom’s most recent WRC outing. Neil contested the event last year and wanted to repeat the experience this year, sitting alongside the UK’s first minor international rally driver. Tom readily agreed and an entry was put in, with the pair assigned car No. 100 in Tom’s regular Group N Ford Fiesta ST.
The event is in its second year and was set-up by sergeant Chris Daykin of II(AC) Squadron, based at Marham. Daykin formed a relationship with the former world rally champion when he took a flight in a Tornado from Marham in 2000 and Burns subsequently helped Daykin with his rallying career. Last year, the event raised over £36,000 for charity with 100 competitors taking part over two days.
Tom’s rallying career has been likened by some to that of the young Burns, starting at grass roots level on his way to becoming champion. And Tom has the same ambition as his hero, of becoming the UK’s next world rally champion.
“I was surprised and delighted when Neil suggested doing the Richard Burns Memorial Rally together,” said Tom. “We’d got to know each other a little over the course of Rally Portugal and Rally Poland this year, as well as on Wales Rally GB last year and when he suggested it, I couldn’t say ‘no’.
“The Richard Burns Foundation is an incredibly worthy cause and to be able to support it by doing something that I love is an amazing opportunity. The whole event seems to be put together by people who want to help others, so if we can support that by taking part and perhaps doing our bit to raise awareness of it and generate even more fundraising, then it's the least we can do.”
Event Website / Details
Posted: June 16, 2009 2:07 PM
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