Malcolm Wilson - 6 Mar 10

Posted: March 9, 2010 9:00 PM

MSA English Rally Championship

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:54 PM

The 30 crews contesting the MSA English Rally Championship were met by wintry conditions at Cockermouth for the Malcolm Wilson Rally, with the seven stages around the Cumbrian forests featuring a mix of ice and snow that made tyre choice a lottery.  

Matt Edwards and Sam Collis negotiated the treacherous conditions to claim victory by almost a minute from round one winners Darren Pinchin and Karen Watts. The result leaves the two pairs tied on points heading into the third round of the championship, the Somerset Stages.  

Last year’s MSA English Rally Champion Jon Ballinger was one of many drivers to slide off the road on the Greystoke stage, though he managed to rejoin and subsequently win his class to move up to third place in the championship.   

Round 3: Somerset Stages - 24th April

Fiesta SportTrophy (FST) - Evans Picks Up Where He Left Off.

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:49 PM

The opening round of the 2010 Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy (FST) UK championship took place on Saturday 6 March with five crews tackling the 35th running of the Malcolm Wilson rally.  The event took place over seven stages covering 41 stage miles around the Cumbrian forests of Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter.   

The first competitive test of the day was the three-mile Hobcarton stage.  Despite being graced with blue skies and sunshine the stages remained snow covered in places as a result of the recent snowfall and low temperatures.  It was 18-year-old Matthew Cathcart from Enniskillen and co-driver Simon Hudspeth who took the first stage victory of 2010 in his Fiesta R2.  Cathcart, making his debut in the series, was a late entry to the series having only signed up on the Friday morning prior to scrutineering.  2008 FST UK champion Elfyn Evans, 21 from Machynlleth was next up, completing the stage seven seconds behind Cathcart in his Fiesta ST.   Tom Watson set the third fastest stage time through Hobcarton deciding that caution was best approach given the tricky conditions.  

Stage two, Comb, saw the lead change as Evans took the win by 17seconds from Cathcart and move into a ten second lead with Watson and Paul Morris again third.  Scotsman John Boyd was the first FST competitor to succumb to the treacherous conditions.  Already suffering from an intermittent engine problem, Boyd and co-driver Craig Wallace rolled in stage two and although they were able to keep going they incurred a stage maximum dropping them well down the order.  

Evans and co-driver Andrew Edwards took their second consecutive stage win through the three-mile Wythop stage.  The FST event was quickly turning into a two horse race with Cathcart again second in the R2 only seven seconds behind Evans.  Tom Watson was a steady third; 15 seconds behind Cathcart and John Boyd regained his composure to set the fourth fastest time.  

Matthew Cathcart put the experience he gained on the FST UK pre season at Greystoke to good use on the first run through the Greystoke stage.  Cathcart posted a time 21seconds faster than his nearest challenger to move into the lead of the FST as the crews made their way to first service.  The Irish youngster was starting to get a handle on the new R2 on his second competitive outing in the car.  Unfortunately the second R2 entered wasn't having quite such a good run and was suffering from an engine problem throughout the first four stages.  Peter Taylor and co-driver Andy Richardson opted to treat the remainder of the rally as an extended test to try and iron out their teething troubles.  

As the crews arrived at Penrith for the first service Cathcart held a slender five-second lead over Evans, with Watson in third ahead of Boyd and Taylor.  All reported that the stages were extremely slippery and that at some points top speeds were around 15mph.  Despite the treacherous conditions all five FST crews made it back to service almost in one piece.  Boyd was the only FST runner to have suffered damage after his roll.  Boyd and co-driver Wallace reported that they had been distracted by the recurring engine problem and made a small error resulting in the roll.   

Next up were two stages through the legendary Grizedale forest.  Evans put in a blistering time of 9minutes 10seconds through stage five to once again take the lead from Cathcart.  Evans' time was the 14th fastest on the stage, ahead of some much faster opposition.   

Evans obviously favoured the loose gravel of Grizedale, posting another fastest stage time on stage six, his fourth of the event and increasing his lead over Cathcart to 38seconds with one final run through Greystoke remaining.   

All crews were much happier with the conditions in Grizedale, reporting the loose gravel stages to have much more grip than the snow ice they had encountered in the morning.  

Choosing to push for victory rather than settle for second, Cathcart set an extraordinary pace through stage seven, setting not only the fastest FST time but also the seventh fastest time overall on the stage.  The time was not enough to overhaul Evans however, as Evans put in a steady drive to claim his first victory in the Fiesta SportTrophy since winning both the UK and Irish championships in 2008.  Evans finished the event with an 18second gap to Cathcart with Tom Watson taking third.   

Despite both suffering from un-diagnosed engine problems both Boyd and Taylor made it to the finish in Cockermouth to claim 4th and 5th places and with it a share of the prize money.  Both crews will be looking to put the event behind them focus on round two of the championship.  

The Fiesta SportTrophy competitors now head to North Wales for the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales where the championship joins the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship.  

FST Winner Elfyn Evans said:
  "It was great to start the 2010 championship with a win.  We are looking forward to the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales in two weeks where we hope to continue our run of good form."

Pos Driver/Co-Driver Total
1 E Evans/A Edwards 55:00
2 M Cathcart/S Hudspeth 55:18
3 T Watson/P Morris 59:02
4 J Boyd/C Wallace 1:03:32
5 P Taylor/A Richardson 1:12:1

Fiesta SportChallenge - Cunningham conquers the Challenge

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:46 PM

The opening round of the 2010 Kick Energy Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC) championship took place on Saturday 6 March with seven crews tackling the 35th running of the Malcolm Wilson rally.  The event took place over seven stages covering 41 stage miles around the Cumbrian forests of Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter.   

The first competitive test of the day was the three-mile Hobcarton stage.  Despite being graced with blue skies and sunshine the stages remained snow covered in places as a result of the recent snowfall and low temperatures.  Damien Smith and Frazer Hutchinson marked their debut in the FSC by winning the opening stage. Fellow debutants Jonny Cunningham and Richard Millener were second, just 13seconds behind with John Pritchard, Alex Laffey and Richard Parry-Jones covered by less than ten seconds in third, fourth and fifth.  

Stage two, Comb, saw Cunningham take the upper hand and overhaul Smith posting a time 22seconds faster than the 28 year old from Skipton to move into a nine second lead.  John Pritchard still held third using his experience as 1995 Skoda Trophy Champion to good use as increased his lead over Laffey to twelve seconds.  

Cunningham and Smith were proving to be the class of the FSC field and were once again first and second on stage three, Wythop.  Cunningham, 26 from Galway, took the victory by just four seconds from Smith.  Pritchard took this third, third fastest stage time in succession while the Parry-Jones and co-driver Sara Price set the fourth fastest time to close to within one second of Laffey.   

Cunningham and Millener made the most of the experience they had gained at the FSC Pre Season test in Greystoke to claim their hat-trick of stage victories on the first run through Greystoke.  With snow and ice still covering much of the stage the perfectly judged when to push and when to take it easy to post a very respectable time overall. This meant that as the crews headed for first service Cunningham held a 40second lead over Smith.  Pritchard still held third with Parry-Jones moving into fourth having passed Laffey in stage four.  Jamie Brown and Dan O'Brien rounded out the field and with just two seconds between them were locked in their own private battle.  

All reported that the stages were extremely slippery and that they were pleased to just make it to service having passed many stranded cars on the way.  Despite the treacherous conditions all seven FSC crews made it back to service in one piece.   

Damien Smith took his second stage win of the event on Grizedale North, closing the gap to Cunningham down to 31seconds.  Parry-Jones posted the third fastest time four seconds ahead of Pritchard.  17year old Dan O'Brien posted the fifth fastest time, the youngster steadily improving on only his second event.  

Cunningham struck back on stage six, Grizedale South, to increase his lead to 43seconds over Smith with just one final stage through Greystoke remaining.  Parry-Jones was obviously more comfortable on the loose gravel of Greystoke than the snow and ice as he once again posted the third fastest time to close the gap to Pritchard to just over 25seconds.  

All crews were much happier with the conditions in Grizedale, reporting the loose gravel stages to have much more grip than the snow ice they had encountered in the morning.  

Rather than taking the cautious option and cruise round the final stage, Cunningham and Millener put in an impressive display to take their fifth stage win of the day.  Their time was twelfth fastest overall, ahead some much quicker, 4wd opposition and almost 40seconds ahead of Smith, the second FSC challenger. It was 20-year-old Alex Laffey; from Market Harbourgh who posted the third fastest time through Greystoke 2, and continued to impress on his FSC debut.  

At the finish it was Cunningham took the first ever FSC victory by one-minute 20seconds from Damien Smith, with John Pritchard in third. The top three finishers all receive a share of the £850 prize fund.  

The Fiesta SportChallenge competitors now head to North Wales for the Bulldog Challenge Rally where the championship joins the BRC Challenge.  

FSC Winning Driver Jonny Cunningham said:
  "This is a perfect start to the year for me.  Only last week I decided I would hire a Fiesta ST to use in the championship to see how I would get on.  I never imagined I would be spraying the champagne come the end of the event.  It's a brilliant start and I can't wait for the next round."

Position Driver/Co-Driver Total Time
1st Jonny Cunningham/Richard Millener 57min 21sec
2nd Damien Smith/Frazer Hutchinson 58min 41sec
3rd John Pritchard/Chris Williams 1hr 01min 38sec
4th Richard Parry-Jones/Sara Price 1hr 02min 00sec
5th Alex Laffey/Daniel Swainbank 1hr 03min 26sec
6th Dan O'Brien/Will Rogers 1hr 04min 29sec
7th Jamie Brown/Craig Burgess 1hr 05min 02sec

Cunningham and Millener Make the Perfect Start

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:43 PM

The all new pairing of Jonathan Cunningham (26) and Richard Millener (25) have made a perfect start to their 2010 rallying campaign by taking victory on the first round of the Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC), The Malcolm Wilson Rally. The FSC is a one make rally championship organised by M-Sport, the team behind the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World rally Team outfit. Cunningham finished the event 25th Overall, second in class N3 as well as taking the FSC victory by one minute twenty seconds from nearest placed rival Damien Smith. Cunningham walked away with £500 prize money and top championship points.

Cunningham originally from Galway, Ireland and Millener originally from Bristol both now live in Workington, Cumbria and were ecstatic to have not only won the opening round of the championship but to also take victory on what is now their home event. Despite the win, the victory was by no means an easy feat.

With the event beginning at M-Sport where both Cunningham and Millener work during the week, they headed to Cockermouth main street for the ceremonial start before the first forestry stages took place in the Comb, Hobcarton and Wythop forest complex‚s.

With sheet ice in all three of the first forest tests the driving conditions were the toughest that Cunningham had ever faced. The crew decided to take a cautious approach and not to worry about the competition to begin with, just ensure they made it through unscathed. Suffering a half spin in Wythop it was otherwise a successful three stages finding themselves 40th overall and third Fiesta overall but more importantly first in the challenge section of the Fiesta series.

With a run through Greystoke forest before the crews headed for the morning service at Penrith truckstop, they were again faced with icy and snowy conditions but finished the stage and increased their lead to 40 seconds over their nearest Fiesta rival.

With no problems to report at service the pairing headed towards Grizedale forest for two stages. The weather conditions in Grizedale were free of snow and ice and Cunningham was able to push on and explore the limits of his Fiesta ST, which he had only picked up one week before and never before driven in anger. Using a fresh set of Pirelli tyres they drove well and left Grizedale again having increased their lead over second placed Smith by a further three seconds.

A second service halt at Penrith was followed by the final stage of the event, another run through Greystoke forest. 12th quickest on the stage overall saw the pairing beating plenty of far more powerful machinery than their Fiesta but also allowed them to cement their first round win. The pair returned to Cockermouth high street to spray the victory champagne and reflect on what was a perfect start to the rallying year.

Cunningham and Millener will next be in action at the end of the month on the second round of the series, the Bulldog Challenge Rally based in North Wales.

Jonathan Cunningham said:
„This is a perfect start to the year for me. Only last week I decided I would hire a Fiesta ST to use in the championship to see how I would get on. I never imagined I would be spraying the champagne come the end of the event. It‚s a brilliant start and I can‚t wait for the next round.‰

Navigator Richard Millener said:
„I use to co-ordinate this championship at M-Sport and I jumped at the oppourtunity when Jonathan asked me to navigate for him. I never thought we would win on our first try because the competition is so strong but it has been a perfect end to a great rally. To win what is effectively our home event makes it an even sweeter victory!"

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:40 PM

2nd Overall - Jonathan Greer/Jonny Hart
Photo: Roy Dempster

PUNCTURES DENY BIRD HISTORIC WIN ON MALCOLM WILSON RALLY

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:29 PM

Penrith rally driver Paul Bird saw his hopes of a record breaking fourth win on the Malcolm Wilson Rally cruelly snatched from his grasp when he was forced to retire on the penultimate stage in his native Lake District today.

Along with Scottish co driver Kirsty Riddick, the Rockstar Energy, Vent Axia and claiming to be www.supercasino.com backed pairing were well in command with a 22-second lead after four stages in their Ford Focus WRC08 as they headed for the pair of tough stages in Grizedale Forest near Coniston.

Grizedale North saw Bird extend his lead to 41 seconds but on the penultimate test in Grizedale South, the pair suffered a puncture very early on in the ten-mile stage and not long after, a second puncture proved terminal meaning the 2005 National Champion had to limp out of the stage and into retirement.

His situation was compounded even further as he caught one of the previous 2WD competitors meaning even more time loss, but it turned out to be irrelevant anyway and for the second year in succession, the three-times winner, who could have become the first man to have won the event four times thus making history, didn't see the Cockermouth finish ramp.

"I'm absolutely spewing and I just can't believe my luck at present. To have one puncture is bad enough but to have two and then catch a slower car, it's just unbelievable. The conditions were very tricky what with the ice and snow but we were bossing it only for this to happen. I really thought it was my day today but obviously not so I'm off to drown my sorrows with the boys and come back next year to try to get that elusive fourth win," said Bird.

PIRELLI TEG SPORT TEAM DECLARE TESTS A SUCCESS

Posted: March 9, 2010 8:26 PM

Defending MSA British Rally Team's Champions TEG Sport kicked off their 2010 campaign with some intensive testing as drivers Keith Cronin and Euan Thorburn were in action during the week at Sweet Lamb in Wales on Thursday followed by running as course cars as part of the two-car Pirelli TEG Sport team on today's Malcolm Wilson Rally.

The Carnforth-based team were using their local event as a shakedown prior to the opening round of the 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship which takes place later in the month with the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales and both 23-year-old Cronin from County Cork along with co driver Barry McNulty, and 23-year-old Scotsman Thorburn from Duns with Paul Beaton on the notes declared it a success as they crested the Cockermouth finish ramp in their latest version Subaru N15s.

Cronin, the defending British Rally Champion and winner of the Pirelli Star Driver shoot-out last year, which secured him a fully funded drive in the MSA British Rally Championship for 2010 with tyre giant Pirelli and Scottish Group N Champion Thorburn both confirmed the mileage gained over the past few days had been crucial in preparation for the upcoming opening round in three weeks' time, despite the icy conditions being less than favourable.

Also in action was another TEG Sport crew, Alan Cookson and Julian Wilkinson, who were contesting the 45-stage mile event in their ex-Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru N15, but they retired after SS4.

Keith Cronin:
"After the test on Thursday and following today's event, I can confirm I'm very happy with the car. Conditions were very tricky and not what we really wanted and it wasn't helped by running first car on the road. We have identified there's a little bit of work to do in one or two areas but that was the idea of these tests and they are only small adjustments as there's always room for improvement. Hopefully we can build on what we've learned and also to get another test in before the Bulldog as I'm really looking forward to getting my title defence underway in three weeks' time."

Euan Thorburn:
"Thursday was very productive for me and today was all about putting the changes we made into practice and I'm very pleased with our progress. The car was great and it's a big step up to what I'm used to and the snow and ice made it very tough but with each corner, I grew in confidence. It was the first time I've done this event and found it very technical which also helped with the handling and performance of the car so I can't wait to get stuck in on the Bulldog later in the month."

Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty
Photo: Roy Dempster

PEREZ CLAIMS 'UNEXPECTED' VICTORY ON MALCOLM WILSON RALLY

Posted: March 9, 2010 7:55 PM

When Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez spun and lost a minute on the second stage of today's Malcolm Wilson Rally, little did he expect to be crossing the finish line a few hours later as the winner having successfully defended the title he won last year.

Driving the Ford Focus 07 along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, Perez, from Chesterfield, slid off on the treacherously icy Comb stage and knew from that point on, any hopes of victory for a second successive year on the Cockermouth-based event were slim.

Despite that, the former British Historic and National Rally Champion gamely battled on and as the crews headed for the infamous Grizedale tests near Coniston, Perez had clawed his way up to third place when on the penultimate stage, rally leader Paul Bird suffered a problem which forced him out leaving Perez to battle it out for the lead and courtesy of three stage wins in the final four tests, took a 17-second win.

The victory was Steve's second successive BTRDA Championship round win following his Wyedean victory last month and upon reaching the finish ramp in Cockermouth High Street, which less than four months ago was under eight feet of water, he paid tribute to the spirit of the town.

"This has got to be my most unexpected victory ever as after losing a minute this morning; I thought I had no chance of winning. But it just goes to show if you keep fighting, anything can happen and I'm delighted to retain my title. If anything, it's even more special as everyone knows what the people of Cockermouth have been through just before Christmas so to have an event like the Malcolm Wilson Rally here, and to have the honour of winning it, really means a lot and I hope they can get back to normality pretty soon," said Steve.

Steve's next outing is scheduled for the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales on Saturday 27th March where he plans to call his iconic Lancia Stratos into British Historic Rally Championship action.

Photos

Posted: March 9, 2010 7:48 PM

Ian Hardy Motorsport Photography

Full Results and Times

Posted: March 6, 2010 9:04 PM

1. Steve Perez/Paul Spooner - Ford Focus WRC - 0:48:31
2. Jonathan Greer/Jonny Hart - Ford Focus WRC - 0:48:48
3. Roger Chilman Jnr/Andrew Sankey - Subaru Impreza N12 - 0:50:02
4. Paul Benn/Richard Cooke - Ford Focus WRC - 0:50:02
5. David Wright/Michael Wilkinson - Mitsubishi Evo9 - 0:50:24
6. Stephen Petch/John Richardson - Hyundai Accent WRC - 0:50:30
7. Owen Murphy/Chris Davies - Mitsubishi Evo9 - 0:52:33
8. Gary Cooper/Jon Riley, Subaru Impreza 0:52:48
9. Gary Tomlinson/Nick Fieldhouse - Subaru Impreza - 0:53:16
10. Richard Cook/Edwin Cook - Subaru Impreza - 0:53:57

Full Results & Times

Results: BTRDA RALLY SERIES

Entry List Available

Posted: March 2, 2010 11:08 AM

• Malcolm Wilson Rally

MALCOLM WILSON SHAKEDOWN FOR PIRELLI TEG SPORT TEAM (Keith Cronin)

Posted: February 28, 2010 8:22 PM

Defending MSA British Rally Team's Champions TEG Sport kick off their 2010 campaign with drivers Keith Cronin and Euan Thorburn in action as part of the two-car Pirelli TEG Sport team on next Saturday's Malcolm Wilson Rally.

The Carnforth-based team are using their local event as a shakedown prior to the opening round of the 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship which takes place later in the month with the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales, and the pair will be running the latest version Subaru N15s as course cars on the Cockermouth-based event.

23-year-old Irishman from Bantry, County Cork, Cronin is the defending British Rally Champion and winner of the Pirelli Star Driver shoot-out last year, which secured him a fully funded drive in the series for 2010 with tyre giant Pirelli.

This year he has teamed up with Stuart Newby's squad and joining him will be Euan Thorburn, with new co-driver Paul Beaton. 23-year-old Thorburn from Duns in the Scottish Borders has been an existing customer of TEG Sport for many years and is Scottish Group N Champion of last year.

Also in action will be another TEG Sport crew with Alan Cookson and Julian Wilkinson contesting the 45-stage mile event in their ex-Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru N15.

In the meantime, Cronin and Thorburn will familiarise themselves with their Subarus with a test at Sweet lamb on 4th March prior to travelling to the Lake District.

Keith Cronin:
"It will be my first time driving this car and my first time with this team so I'm looking forward to the new challenge and with working with the new team. I'm not sure really what my expectations are until I drive the car and get it set up but this will be a good event to get things sorted."

Euan Thorburn:
"It's great to be part of the team this year. It's a whole new experience for me, in the past I have had to prepare my own car but this year I can concentrate 100% on my driving. Obviously it's a huge opportunity and I can't wait to have a shot in the new car."

Stuart Newby, Team Owner:
"The combination of a proven champion in Keith, with a young enthusiastic up and coming driver in Euan and a competitive car has ensured that we are eagerly anticipating the testing we have planned and subsequent events. The first round, the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales, can't come soon enough for everyone at TEG Sport."

Dawn of a new era for FST UK

Posted: February 27, 2010 5:31 PM

The Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy UK (FST UK) enters a new era next weekend with the start of the 2010 championship on the traditional season opener, the Malcolm Wilson Rally.  The fifth consecutive FST UK championship sees two exciting new introductions, a new car in the shape of the Fiesta R2, and a new championship, the Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC), providing competitors with more choice than ever before.  

The Cumbrian countryside provides a picturesque backdrop to the start of another exciting FST UK championship.  Based at the Dovenby headquarters of M-Sport, the team behind both the Fiesta SportTrophy and the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, the Malcolm Wilson Rally takes place over seven gravel stages covering 41 competitive miles around some of the most famous forests in UK rallying including Greystoke and Grizedale.  

The Fiesta R2 was introduced to the FST International series in 2009 and will make its debut in the FST UK in 2010.  The car, based on the latest Ford Fiesta Zetec S road car, features a 1600cc naturally aspirated engine uprated to produce 170 PS.  Combine that with a five-speed Sadev sequential gearbox and four piston AP brakes and you have the recipe for Ford’s first global rally car.   

The R2 will compete alongside the well-proven Group N Fiesta ST over the seven round mixed surface Fiesta SportTrophy UK championship.  Both cars will be eligible for championship points and a share of the £1,850 prize fund, guaranteed to the top five FST UK finishers.  The FST UK championship supports the British Rally Championship on all six international rallies that make up the BRC.  Registered competitors will also score points towards the British Rally Championship.  

The Fiesta SportChallenge is a new championship for 2010 offering Fiesta ST competitors a more cost-effective alternative to the Fiesta SportTrophy.  Running alongside the BRC Challenge, the championship is aimed at young drivers starting out in rallying, as well as those more experienced competitors who want tackle some of the UK’s finest stages without incurring the cost of the BRC two day format.  The top three FSC finishers are guaranteed a share of the £850 prize fund.  

Chesterfield based businessman Steve Perez once again provides title sponsorship to the series through Global Brands Ltd (GBL) and their Kick Energy brand.  Steve will also be competing on the Malcolm Wilson Rally in his Kick Energy backed Ford Focus RS WRC.   

Pirelli Tyres return for a third season as technical sponsor and supplier of control tyres to the series ensuring all competitors have equal rubber for each event.  ATL Events will be on hand at all FST UK events to offer technical advice and first class fitting service.
Castrol will continue with the ‘Hard Charger’ award for the highest number of fastest stage times and Competition Car Insurance will continue to support the series for the 2010 season.  

With the top six finishers from 2009 all moving on from the FST series, the 2010 championship couldn’t be more open.  19-year-old Welshman Tom Watson is the highest placed returning driver from 2009. Tom finished a creditable seventh in his first season in rallying and will look to challenge for the championship in 2010 alongside new co-driver Paul Morris.  Morris already has plenty of FST experience having previously co-driven for 2007 FST Ireland champion, Alistair Fisher.  

John Boyd, 22 from West Linton, also enjoyed a good debut season in the Fiesta SportTrophy in 2009, steadily building his pace over the year to finish eighth overall.  A former karting frontrunner, Boyd won the final round of the FST UK championship in 2009 and will hope to carry that momentum in 2010 when he teams up with new co-driver, fellow Scotsman, Craig Wallace.  

FST UK newcomer Peter Taylor will drive the R2 entry for the Malcolm Wilson Rally.  The Carlisle based 18-year-old made his rallying debut on the Border Counties Rally in 2009 and will team up with experienced co-driver Andy Richardson for his graduation to the FST UK championship.  

2008 double FST UK and Ireland champion Elfyn Evans and his team-mate Richard Parry-Jones both make a welcome return to the series having sat out the 2009 season.   Evans will hope to pick up where he left off and starts the season among the favourites to take the Fiesta SportTrophy crown.  He will be co-driven by Andrew Edwards, who also has previous experience in the FST, having been runner up to Gareth Roberts in the 2008 co-drivers standings.  Former Ford of Europe Vice President Richard Parry-Jones makes his competitive return in the 2010 Fiesta SportChallenge and will, again, be co-driven by Sara Price.  

Jamie Brown made his FST debut in 2009, but has much more experience than his 18years would suggest.  Brown spent five years competing in karts before moving on to compete in the Saxmax circuit racing championship for 14-17 year olds, as well as in junior rallies in Latvia.  Brown will be co-driven by Craig Burgess, who has been co-driving since before Jamie was born; the pairing will be hoping that the mixture of youth and experience will produce the results in 2010.  

The car used by 2009 FST UK runner up Matt Edwards makes a return to the championship in 2010, this time in the hands of the experienced John Pritchard. Pritchard competed on his first rally in 1978 and has decided to return to competition during his 50th year.  The 1995 Skoda Trophy championship winner, Pritchard will be looking to show the youngsters a thing or two!  

Former FST UK championship co-ordinator Richard Millener will experience the championship from the other side of the fence in 2010, having signed up to co-drive for Jonny Cunningham.  The 2009 Irish Junior Championship runner-up and Billy Coleman Award nominee, 26-year-old Cunningham only started competing late in 2008, but was quickly up to speed and will be looking to give some of the more experienced competition a run for their money.  He was runner up in the Billy Coleman Award to 2009 multiple FST champion Craig Breen.  Cunningham will be out to emulate his fellow countryman’s success in the Fiesta SportChallenge.  

28-year-old Damien Smith from Silsden, West Yorkshire, joins the Fiesta SportChallenge having finished as runner-up in the 205 Challenge in 2009.  A former motocross rider, Smith finished second in class on his rallying debut on the Twyford Wood Rally in 2007 and made the permanent switch to four wheels last year.  

Alex Laffey (21) from Market Harborough steps up to the Fiesta SportChallenge having competed on several national rallies in 2008 and 2009.  Co-driven by Daniel Swainbank the pairing will be out to gain experience in their first full year of competition.  

Dan O’Brien is the youngest competitor to tackle the FSC this year, having only turned 17 in November 2009.  The 2008 British and Irish and 2009 Irish Junior rallycross champion competed on his first rally in a Fiesta ST just twelve days after his 17th birthday, having passed his driving test in the week leading up to the event.  O’Brien follows in the footsteps of his father Mick, who regularly competes in a Ford Focus WRC.  

As in 2009, all registered competitors will have the opportunity to attend a pre-event test and training day.  The test day will take place in Greystoke Forest on Thursday 4 March.  Competitors will then move into M-Sport’s Dovenby HQ on Friday 5 March, where they will be offered media and competitor skills training from experienced members of the sport.  The day should give competitors an insight into what is involved in a career in rallying aside from simply driving and also provide a useful insight into what may be involved in the end of year FST Shootout.  

As well as a guaranteed prize fund for both the FST and FSC at each event, M-Sport is offering the championship winners the chance to join the M-Sport team in a Fiesta R2.  The winner of the Fiesta SportTrophy will have the chance to compete on MSA Rally Scotland; the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, in a M-Sport prepared and maintained Fiesta R2.  The winner of the Fiesta SportChallenge will have the chance to compete on the final round of the British Rally Championship and FST UK; the International Rally Yorkshire, also in a M-Sport prepared and maintained Fiesta R2.  The winner of each championship plus one wildcard will be entered into the end of year FST Shootout for the chance to win a years work placement with M-Sport.  

Following the Malcolm Wilson Rally, both the FST and FSC move on to North Wales for the first round of the British Rally Championship and British Rally Challenge, the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales and the Bulldog Challenge Rally, on 27 March 2010.

Keith Cronin to debut Subaru Impreza

Posted: January 26, 2010 12:05 PM

Keith Cronin is planning to debut the TEG Subaru Impreza he will use in the 2010 BRC as OO on the Malcolm Wilson.

Regulations / Details

Posted: January 1, 2010 12:01 AM

• Malcolm Wilson Rally