North West Stages - 7-8 Feb 14

Simpson returns after 12 years to finish 2nd overall and 1st in class on his ŠKODA Fabia S2000 debut

Posted: February 25, 2014 5:02 PM

Neil Simpson made a sensational return to rallying after a 12 year absence, when he finished 2nd overall (and 1st in class) on the North West Stages Rally in his Simpsons ŠKODA Fabia S2000.

Co-driven by Claire Mole for the first time, the 41-year old dealer principal from Clitheroe in Lancashire was lying 17th after a tricky opening night of competition (Friday 7 February), when heavy rain and darkness made conditions very challenging.

Neil quickly got into his stride on day two, acclimatising quickly to his new ex-factory ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000 as the multi-venue all-Tarmac North West Stages Rally unfolded. He rapidly moved up the leaderboard, and after great runs over the Blackpool Promenade and Fleetwood Waterfront stages, which were lined with thousands of spectators, Neil completed all 26 stages and 75 miles of flat-out competition in a magnificent 2nd overall.

Neil:
“I’m delighted with the result and our overall performance. I’ve missed rallying so much, and to score such a great result first time out after twelve years is a great start to the year.

“The opening group of stages on the Friday night were some of the most difficult I’ve ever done in my entire rally career. It was very much back in at the deep end, and having gone out on slick tyres in the pouring rain, we spent most of the night spinning and travelling backwards! I went to bed in seventeenth place and thinking the long day ahead was going to be even harder and a top ten result would be a good achievement, but on the Saturday things just got better and better.

“You had to be very precise, because there were lots of kerbs and concrete to hit and there were bits of other rally cars lying everywhere, but we drove well within ourselves and quickly climbed up the leaderboard. Claire and I worked well together inside the car and the team did a fantastic job; we made no more mistakes and enjoyed every moment. To finish second on my first rallying in twelve years – well, I couldn’t have wished for anything better.”

In Car

Posted: February 25, 2014 4:59 PM

Paul Swift & Giles Dykes (Ford Escort Mk2)

North West Jinx Strikes Swift Again

Posted: February 25, 2014 4:56 PM

Darlington rally driver Paul Swift saw his hopes dashed for a second successive year when mechanical failure saw him retire from this weekend's Legend Fires North West Stages Rally based in Blackpool.

Along with Barnard Castle co-driver Giles Dykes, the former AS Performance North of England Tarmac Rally and Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Tarmac Champion was hoping to banish the demons from last year when he retired early on Saturday in the 2.4 litre Millington Ford Escort Mk2.

Having finished 15th overall back in 2012, the seven times British champion was in confident mood and set tenth fastest time on the opening stage but in an ironic repeat of last year, he spun on the second stage and dropped over 30 seconds meaning he slumped to 48th overall at the overnight halt.

Saturday started with Swift attacking and he set top ten times on the opening loop of stages, including being sixth fastest overall on SS8, to elevate himself to tenth place overall at the halfway point.

Another top eight time on SS13 saw him maintain his top ten placing and with it the lead in his class and all looked to be going well until SS16 when the car suffered clutch problems which proved to be terminal, meaning he had to not only relinquish his overall position, his hopes of a class win were gone too.

A disappointed Paul commented:
"I'm beginning to think that I'm jinxed on this event as that's the third time in four attempts that I've retired and every time it's when I'm on for a good result. The car blew an oil seal in the gearbox which found its way onto the clutch and that was game over. We spun on Friday night when we hit some unexpected water on slick tyres and slid sideways into a chicane which caused damage and also cost us some time but we fought back as normal to enjoy a good battle with Damien Cole and James Sharrack. Up until then we had a good battle and had taken no risks and were well into the groove. Giles was doing a great job and I felt we could have had a top five result overall had we kept going. We've lost our lead in the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship so we will see what happens next. The car needs a good strip down and rebuild so we plan on doing that before we are out again."

Paul would like to thank his sponsors and partners for their help in 2014.

Birdy's Blackpool Crocodile Rock

Posted: February 25, 2014 4:56 PM

Cumbrian driver Paul Bird made it two wins in as many years when he emphatically defended his Legend Fires North West Stages Rally crown, taking the victory by over five minutes, before admitting he owed it all to his daughter's toy!

Just as he did last year, the Langwathby driver took the lead after the opening stage on Friday night and was never headed over the next 25 stages but along with Welsh co driver Aled Davies in the Frank Bird Poultry, Fuchs Titan, Rapid Solicitors and Mac Tools-backed Ford Focus WRC07, he had another passenger.

His daughter, Lexi, who he dedicated his win to last year, gave him her toy crocodile as a good luck charm this year and it accompanied the 2005 ANCRO National Champion to 18 stage victories and second fastest time on seven of the remaining eight tests as he was never challenged.

Despite the tricky weather conditions, Bird won all five stages on Friday night to hold a massive 53 second lead at the overnight halt in Blackpool before starting off where he finished on Saturday's remaining 21 stages.

The MotoGP and British Superbike Team boss extended his lead to over one and a half minutes by half distance despite a clash with ex winner Tony Bardy before continuing his relentless pace into the afternoon.

Bird's advantage was over two and a half minutes over Dom Buckley Motorsport team-mate John Stone when the event sponsor retired his Skoda Fabia late on and despite a spin on the penultimate stage, his only mistake of the event, Bird crossed the Blackpool finish ramp five minutes and eight seconds to the good over the Skoda of Neil Simpson.

Paul Bird:
"I dedicated the win last year to my daughter Lexi so this year she gave me her toy crocodile as a good luck charm and it worked! I've been called some names in my time and it's probably the first time a reptile has won this event but joking aside, we had a good solid run. The car was faultless, Aled is a fantastic co-driver and I have a wonderful team around me which makes my job easy and now I'm back in training and focussed, we showed again what we could do. I had a clash with Tony Bardy this morning and then a spin on SS25 when we aquaplaned but other than that, we had no problems and I felt really sharp in the car. It was a shame Kevin Procter went out early as I was looking forward to a battle with him and the challenge didn't materialise from one or two others as I expected. This is one of the toughest rallies in the UK with such a strong entry so to win it for a second time was fantastic. It sets us up nicely for next weekend where I'm going to have to be on the top of my game again. "

Now the runner-up in the 2013 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship plans to return to gravel and will be contesting the 2014 BTRDA Rally Series which kicks off with the Weir Engineering Wyedean Forest Rally next weekend.

Stone Denied Runner-Up Spot On Legend Fires NW Stages Rally

Posted: February 25, 2014 4:55 PM

Just as it looked as if he was on for a repeat of his runner-up placing on the event of two years ago, Blackburn driver John Stone saw his hopes dashed when he was forced to retire from this weekend's Legend Fires North West Stages Rally with just four stages remaining.

Along with Welsh co-driver Carl Williamson, the event sponsor was back in action in the Legend Fires Skoda Fabia WRC following an extensive winter rebuild and despite the tricky conditions on Friday night, the pair took it steady to reach the overnight halt in Blackpool in a safe fifth position after setting second fastest time behind rally leader and Dom Buckley Motorsport team-mate Paul Bird on SS2.

The weather was to play a part in Saturday's remaining 21 stages but soon, Stone was starting to climb the leaderboard and by SS9, he was up to third place overall. Having desires on lifting the winner's trophy again just as he did ten years ago, John continued his progress up the order and by half distance, was up into second place and giving chase to Bird.

Equal fastest time on SS14 saw Stone limit Bird's advantage but after dropping some time on the next couple of tests, the Legend Fires team had to look in their mirrors as the Subaru of Simon Bowen was starting to rapidly close in.

Stone responded with fastest time outright on SS19 as Bowen struck trouble meaning by the end of the 22nd stage, John and Carl were over one and a half a minutes in front of third placed Neil Simpson (Skoda) and comfortable holding second overall when disaster struck as John explained:

"We had a bit of a plan and were driving well within ourselves which meant not taking any risks when the car started to lose power on the way back to service. It could have been a problem with the turbo but rather than limping home to the finish down the order, we decided not to risk it given the car has just had a major overhaul. Whilst it is disappointing to retire, we ironed out a few niggles and enjoyed a good battle whilst it lasted. The focus is now on the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship which gets underway next month and we'll put what we learned in Blackpool to good use."

Neil Simpson returns to rallying after 12 year sabbatical in a Simpsons ŠKODA Fabia S2000

Posted: February 25, 2014 4:52 PM

Former works rally driver Neil Simpson will return to rallying this year after a 12 year sabbatical, driving an ex-ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000 entered by his own Simpsons of Preston and Colne ŠKODA dealerships.

The 41-year old dealer principal from Clitheroe in Lancashire will rally the same Fabia S2000 in which Freddy Loix (Belgium) won the 2013 Ypres Rally. The car has only ever done three events, as it was also driven by Esapekka Lappi (Finland) at last year’s Barum Czech Rally Zlín and Sanremo Rally.

After an initial shakedown test at Fulbeck Airfield in Lincolnshire before Christmas, Neil tested the car at rally speed for the first time on Sunday (2 February), with his new co-driver Claire Mole, over the Trawsfynydd military range in Wales.

After an excellent test session, Neil is looking forward to making his competition debut in the Fabia S2000 on this weekend’s North West Stages. Although Neil can see one of the stages from his Simpsons ŠKODA showroom, it’s the first time he has contested his local multi-single venue event.

Neil’s last full rally season was in 2001, when he drove a works Volkswagen Polo S1600 in the MSA British Rally Championship. Back then he was also an official test driver for Volkswagen Motorsport, spending up to four days a week in Germany working on rally projects. The ending of that three-year contract coincided with his father wishing to take a back seat in the family business, and thus Neil decided to stop rallying and concentrate on building the business.

Since then, Neil has developed Simpsons ŠKODA into one of the UK’s top retailers, winning ŠKODA UK Retailer of the Year Awards in the Aftersales, Used Car Sales and Fleet Sales categories last year.

Neil:
“I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t rally while I developed the business, and whilst I’ve kept to it there has always been a motorsport culture at Simpsons ŠKODA. After twelve years, we felt the time was right to return to rallying.

“Initially we thought about just going out and having some fun, but there again if you’re going to return you might as well do it properly. The idea has come on in leaps and bounds since then, and everyone at Simpsons ŠKODA is involved and excited about the eight all-Tarmac rally programme that we’ve put together, as we’ve created a great project that links our passion for motorsport and business.

“The test in Trawsfynydd went really well. We had all sorts of weather in one day – hail, torrential rain, sunshine – so we were able to test a variety of roll bar settings, dampers and tyres on both wet and dry roads; it couldn’t have been better. It was also the first time Claire and I had sat in a rally car together and we got on really well from the word go.

“The ŠKODA Fabia S2000 is a cracking piece of kit and without doubt the best rally car I’ve ever driven. I feel very honoured to be able to rally it, and I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.”

2014 planned programme of events
7-8 February….North West Stages (Blackpool)
14-15 March….Le Touquet Rallye (France)
17-19 April….Circuit of Ireland
30-31 May….Jim Clark Rally (Scotland)
19-20 June….Geko Ypres Rally (Belgium)
15-16 August….Ulster Rally
13-14 September….Wexford (Ireland)
31 October-2 November….Condroz Rally (Belgium)

Photos

Posted: February 25, 2014 3:23 PM

Rallyaround Photography

Results

Posted: February 25, 2014 3:01 PM

1 Paul Bird/Aled Davies - Ford Focus 07 WRC - 1hr 37m 48s
2 Neil Simpson/Claire Mole - Skoda Fabia S2000 - + 5m: 08s
3 Darren Doherty/Andrew Falconer - Subaru Impreza - + 6m:44s
4 Bob Grant/Vicky Grant - Subaru Impreza - + 8m:52s
5 Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson - Ford Escort RS Mk2 - + 10m:20s
6 Alan Kirby/Lawrence Kirby - Subaru Impreza - + 10m:30s
7 Chris Ford/Steve Hartley - Subaru Impreza - + 10m:49s
8 Howard Chopping/Jon Turnbull - Subaru Impreza555 - + 10m:51s
9 David Benson/Steven Benson - Honda Civic - + 11m:31s
10 Mathew Roberts/Richard Bestwick - Citroen Saxo VTS - + 12m:24s

North West Stages - 7-8 Feb 14 - RESULTS

Results on line (North West Stages 2014) | Results by: Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results

Bird Ready To Rock Blackpool

Posted: February 5, 2014 9:54 AM

Defending champion Paul Bird returns to the Legend Fires North West Stages Rally this weekend determined to hang onto the number one plate he claimed in emphatic fashion last year.

A year ago, the Langwathby driver took the lead after the opening stage on Friday night and was never headed over the next 25 stages and he'll be looking for another perfect performance in the Fuchs Titan, Rapid Solicitors and Mac Tools-backed Ford Focus WRC07.

But the Cumbrian boss of his own MotoGP and British Superbike teams knows it won't be an easy task with the usual array including some of Britain's best drivers entered on the two-day Blackpool-based event but along with Welsh co-driver Aled Davies, he's confident of success.

The pair are planning a test on Friday in the Dom Buckley IRS-prepared car and following an intense training regime in recent weeks, the 2005 National Champion is as well prepared as he can be as he kicks off his 2014 season.

However, after finishing runner-up in the 2013 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, Paul is turning his attention back to the gravel and aims to contest the 2014 BTRDA Rally Series which kicks off with the Wyedean Rally the week after followed by his annual outing on home turf in the Malcolm Wilson Rally.

But for now the focus is this weekend's tarmac action and to see off the considerable opposition to win the event for a second successive year over 75 stage miles at various locations in and around the Lancashire resort.

Paul Bird:
"I dedicated my win last year to my daughter Lexi and I know she'd like me to do it again so that's the plan. I'm back in training again and looking forward to testing the car as I've hardly driven it over winter and you can't give any of these drivers the slightest advantage so you've got to be on it from the word go. Last year the car was perfect and I never put a foot wrong so I'll settle for that again which would be a massive confidence booster going into the Wyedean the week after."

Friday's first loop of five stages gets underway at 18.00 with cars expected back at around 20.45. Saturday sees the bulk of the mileage with cars leaving the start at 08.55 and returning for the ceremonial finish in Blackpool at around 18.25. For more information please visit www.nwstages.co.uk and www.pbmuk.net.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: February 4, 2014 11:43 AM

No Driver/Co-Driver (Car) [Class) 1 Paul Bird/Aled Davies (Ford Focus WRC) [D)
2 Stephen Simpson/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC) [D)
3 Kevin Procter/David Bellerby (Subaru Impreza WRC) [D)
4 John Stone/Carl Williamson (Skoda Fabia WRC) [D)
5 Tony Bardy/Neil Colman (Nissan Sunny GtiR) [D)
6 Darren Doherty/Andrew Falconer (Subaru Impreza) [D)
7 Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [E)
8 Neil Simpson/Claire Mole (Skoda Fabia S2000) [C)
9 Simon Bowen/Richard Robinson (Subaru Impreza S11) [D)
10 Alex Taylor/Mark Swallow (Subaru Forester) [D)
11 Mark Holmes/Anthony Lindsay (Rover Metro 6R4) [D)
12 Bob Grant/Vicky Grant (Subaru Impreza) [D)
13 Nigel Hobson/Tim Hobson (Subaru Impreza) [D)
14 Howard Chopping/Jonathon Turnbull (Subaru Impreza 555) [D)
15 Robert Dick/Barry Green (Ford Escort) [E)
16 Mike Taylor/Peter Grant (Talbot Lotus Sunbeam) [E)
17 Alan Kirby/Lawrence Kirby (Subaru Impreza) [D)
18 Paul Swift/Giles Dykes (Ford Escort Mk2) [E)
19 Steve Marriott/Dave Mclachlan (Subaru Impreza) [D)
20 Pete Rayner/Richard Bonner (Ford Escort Mk2) [E)
21 Adrian Atkinson/Dave Riley (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [D)
22 Nigel Worswick/Paula Swinscoe (Ford Escort Mark 2) [E)
23 David Longfellow/Danny Ward (Subaru Impreza) [D)
24 Andrew Varley/Paul Wild (Ford Escort Cosworth) [D)
25 James Sharrock/Stuart Faulds (Ford Escort Mk2) [E)
26 Keith Robathan/Peter Carstairs (Ford Escort MK 2) [E)
27 David Benson/Steven Benson (Honda Civic) [B)
28 Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes (Peugeot 106) [B)
29 Mathew Roberts/Richard Bestwick (Citroen Saxo VTS) [B)
30 Craig Pennington/Micheal Calvert (Mitsubishi Evo) [D)
31 Stuart Walker/Julie McGuire (Mitsibishi Evo 8) [D)
32 Mark Bentley/Ed Bentley (Subaru Impreza N12) [D)
33 Alistair Hutchinson/StJohn Dykes (Renault Clio LPG) [C)
34 Duncan Taylor/Stephen Graveson (Subaru Impreza) [D)
35 Gary Nuttall/Chris Griffin (Mitsubishi Evo) [D)
36 Gavin Edwards/Rob Hopewell (Ford Escort) [C)
37 Steve Hopewell/Mike Smith (Mazda RX7) [E)
38 Andrew Bird/Sam Spencer (Vauxhall Chevette) [E)
39 Dylan Thomas/Peredur Wyn Davies (Peugeot 106) [B)
40 John Richardson/Eric Wilcockson (Ford Escort Mk 2) [C)
41 Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan (Ford KA) [C)
42 Chris Ford/Steve Hartley (Subaru Impreza) [D)
43 Andrew Barker/Steve Mort (Citroen C2) [C)
44 Jon Trenholme/Alison Trenholme (Subaru Impreza) [D)
45 Mark Thompson/Phil Kenny (Peugeot 206 Gti) [C)
46 Richard Slinger/Phillip Boyle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 RS) [D)
47 David Greenbank/Garry Green (Subaru Impreza) [D)
48 Mark Constantine/Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa) [A)
49 Barry Grant/Emyr Hall (Peugeot 106) [B)
50 David Sunderland/John Marsh (Ford Escort) [H)
51 Andrew Fawcett/Chris Purvis (Vauxhall Nova) [A)
52 Nick Thorne/Ian Murray (Honda Civic Type R) [C)
53 Llion owen/Ieu Owen (Citroen C2) [B)
54 Peppe Planeta/Dan Simcock (Honda Civic S2000) [C)
55 Nick Stamper/Craig Simkiss (Subaru Impreza) [D)
56 Geoff Simpson/Totally Mad Mick Johnson (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [D)
57 Allister Wells/John Cope (Subaru Impreza) [D)
58 Colin Mills/Philip Rushton (Subaru Impreza) [D)
59 Andrew Gardner/John Gardner (Peugeot 206) [B)
60 Martin Payne/Sarah Lindsey Payne (Vauxhall Astra) [A)
61 Rob Herrington/Mike Herringrton (Ford Escort Mk2) [E)
62 Mike Axford/Dave Thomason (Ford Fiesta RS) [B)
63 Stephen Bethwaite/Ann Forster (Vauxhall Nova Sport) [A)
64 Alex Jackson/Martin Young (Ford KA) [A)
65 Jonathan Comer/Stephen Landen (Mitsubishi EVO) [D)
66 Kev Tennick/Ian Jackson (Peugeot 205) [C)
67 Jason Hewlett/Chris Sharp-Simkiss (Vauxhall Astra) [C)
68 Cathy Sewart/Samantha Bartlett (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus) [E)
69 Derwyn Roberts/Merfyn Williams (Ford Escort Mk3) [B)
70 Sean Ward/Matthew Daniels (Peugeot 205 Minion) [A)
71 John Saunders/Tony Hart (Subaru Impreza N10) [D)
72 David Fairhurst/Craig Fairhurst (Ford Escort RS 1400) [A)
73 Dave Hobson/Matt Hobson (Subaru Impreza INIT) [D)
74 Mark Booth/Pauline Merrills (Hillman Avenger Gt) [B)
75 Philip Jennings/George Jennings (BMW Compact) [E)
76 Antony Dixon/Ryan Moyler (Vauxhall Astra GSI) [C)
77 James Thomson/Alison Woodcock (Vauxhall Nova) [A)
78 Jack Darbyshire/Mathew Kendall (Ford Escort) [C)
79 Dale Carter/Mark Carter (Subaru Impreza WRX) [D)
80 Ean Lewin/Darren Riley (Ford FIesta ST 195) [C)
81 Garry Houghton/Stephen Davies (Toyota Starlet) [C)
82 Russ Smith/Richard Duddell (Rover 200) [C)
83 Lee Jones/Myles Gleave (Peugeot 205 GTI) [B)
84 Stephen Rostron/Robert Steven Mills (Ford Escort Cosworth) [D)
85 Jeffrey A Simm/Graham Hutchinson (Subaru Impreza) [D)
86 Alan Kitson/Steve Warrington (Sunbeam Imp Sport) [A)
87 Bill Bates/Kari Bates (PEUGEOT 106 GTI) [B)
88 Dom Booth/Gari Hazelby (Peugeot 106) [B)
89 Terry Mills/Adam Lord (Subaru WRX Impreza) [D)
90 Rob Jones/Tony Archer (Ford Fiesta) [A)
91 Jamie McDowall/Charlotte McDowall (Ford Focus) [C)
92 Derek Connell/Laura marshall (Vauxhall Corsa SRI) [A)
93 Drew Barker/Shona Hale (Vaushall Corsa B) [A)
94 Martin Melling/Graham Brandreth (Austin Mini) [A)
95 Adam Booth/Daniel Granger (Vauxhall Corsa) [A)
96 Ben Atkinson/Richard Wheeler (Skoda Felicia) [A)
97 Patrick C. Masters/Lewis Jackson (Nissan Micra) [F)
98 Stephen Hudson/James Chaplin (Peugeot 205 GTI) [R)
99 Peter Cox/Kris Pirie (Peugeot 205) [A)
100 John Steele/Markus Buckley (Ford Fiesta ST) [C)
101 Simon Povey/Peter Jones (Vauxhall Astra) [A)
102 Lance Rowlinson/Martin J. Rowlinson (Ford Escort Mk2) [B)
103 Mark Burton/John Burton (Vauxhall Nova) [C)
104 Hazel Johnson/Steven Butler (Nissan Micra) [F)
105 Ian Kelly/Margaret Kelly (Nissan Micra) [A)
106 Alan Paramore/Colin Fisher (Land Rover Wolf XD) [L)
107 Marc Paynter/Mike Roberts (Land Rover Wolf XD) [L)
108 Curtis McKerlie/Clive Allford (Land Rover Wolf XD) [L)
109 Blair Thomson/Adam Woolner (Land Rover Wolf XD) [L)
110 John Hickinbotham/Keith Sharlott (Land Rover Wolf XD) [L)
111 Graham Middleton/Simon Hunter (Hyundai Coupe) [C)

Entries Received

Posted: January 23, 2014 1:37 PM

Available at:

www.rallies.info/webentry/2014/northwest/entries.php?type=u

Regulations / On Line Entry / Event Website

Posted: January 9, 2014 2:23 PM

• North West Stages Rally