Twist of fate rewards Tom Cave with class win on Rally Latvia

Twist of fate rewards Tom Cave with class win on Rally Latvia

Posted: October 6, 2009 3:27 PM

A bizarre twist of fate gave rally sensation Tom Cave a much-deserved class win this weekend, when the youngster inherited the N3 class victory on Rally Latvia, the final round of the Baltic nation's national rally championship, several hours after the event finished. Cave had dominated the class from the off but a last-stage error, when he clipped a rock and broke the car's steering saw him demoted to second. However, a technical irregularity and subsequent disqualification of the winner's car meant that Cave inherited the win that had looked like his all day.

This was the third time Cave was contesting the event and was looking forward to the chance to push for a result, unhindered by a requirement to finish to gain his license, as he was in the previous two years.

From the off, the 17 year-old was on the pace, matching times with locals in Group N Renault Clios, which had dominated class N3 for several years.

Tom was putting in stage-winning times and by the finish of the penultimate stage of the seven-test rally, had an almost one-minute lead in the N3 class.

However, two kilometres from the end of the seventh and final stage, the youngster clipped a rock on the inside of a corner that was not in his pace notes, breaking the car's steering. He and co-driver Gemma Price were able to continue but at much reduced pace, limping to the end of the stage and to the finish ramp of the event, recording a finish. However, in doing so, they saw their near one-minute lead turn into a twelve-second deficit to the leader and with it, second place.

With Tom and Gemma accepting the mistake cost them the place, the class winner's car was inspected in post-event scrutineering, where a technical irregularity was found and the winner was subsequently disqualified from the event. This meant the win in fact went to Tom and Gemma, a result that had looked like a foregone conclusion throughout the day.

Speaking after the finish of the event, Tom said; "We had a great day but of course, I was gutted to have clipped that rock and given the class win away. However, I was even more amazed when I received a phone call on the way home from the rally late that night saying that the winner had been disqualified and we had got the class win after all. That's not the ideal way to win an event but at least I had put in the times and had the class lead before we hit the rock.

"I felt really at home in the car and on the stages all day. We had a great rhythm in the car, the notes were working really well and everything was going perfectly. We made a few set-up changes to the car as we went along and this worked very well, with us taking time from the competition during the day.

"One of the most encouraging things was to hear from the organisers that we were the first crew to give the Renault Clios a run for their money - they have dominated N3 for several years so it was good to show what we were capable of. I think it demonstrates that our performance has developed significantly since the last time I competed in Latvia and I now have confidence in my notes and my driving."

This weekend was the third time that Tom had done the event with co-driver Gemma Price, who returned for the pair's visit to Latvia.

"Gemma did a fantastic job this weekend, as she always does," said Tom, "and I'm very grateful for all the effort and hard work she has put in over the last three years. While I'm saying 'Thanks', I also have to thank the Latvian Automobile Federation again for their support and for organising such a superb series as well as Vytautas Baranauskas from Lithuania, for doing such a good job with the car we used this weekend, which ran perfectly all day."

Tom's next event will be his home round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB in two week's time. Last year, the he became the youngest competitor to ever take part and this year, will compete on his second Rally GB before his 18th birthday. He has yet to decide what car to drive, since he has several tests lined up prior to the event, all leading to the possibility of a new car. However, his regular Ford Fiesta ST currently sits in the Davies Motorsport workshops prepped and ready for action should it be needed.