Super 106 Cup Agbo Rally - 12 Mar '00

Posted: March 13, 2000 11:43 PM

One of the favourites for this year's Peugeot 106 Super Cup Rally Series Rory's victory today has further enhanced his championship prospects.

Round 2 of the series takes place at the Granite City Rally (Aberdeen) on April 8th.

The opening round of the Peugeot Super 106 Cup saw 37 of the pocket rocket Peugeot 106 GTi's competing for overall honours around ten tarmac stages at sunny Weston Park. Thrilling competition was the order of the day with the closest battle yet seen in the Super 106 Cup, with the lead changing several times over the course of the day.

Prior to the final stage the leading three competitors were split by only one second, with Kevin Furber in front. However in a dramatic finish Irishman Rory Galligan and Jonty Bolsover beat Andy Burnell and Neil Dashfield from Devon by one second with the unfortunate Furber retiring on the last stage with accident damage.

Galligan was delighted; his only problem was a smashed passenger window after clipping the door mirror on a straw bale. Other than a small spin on stage 4 Burnell had an trouble free day. David Nutt and Richard Wyndham-Smith were an inspired third following a late change of tyres.

Irishmen Seamus Donnelly and Billy McCullins lost time with an overshoot and stalled engine on stage 8 to finish fourth with Paul Wedgbury and Chris Neale just one second behind rounding off the top five. Martin Sansom and Phil Wells came back well after losing time in the watersplash on stage one to finish sixth. Recent converts from Skoda Dave West accompanied by Stefan Ardnt showed promise for the season in seventh.

Miles Johnstone and Mark Andrews were eighth after a steady day. Michael Brew and Breeshy Christian were ninth, with Devon brothers Marcus and Phil Luxton a good tenth after drowning out in the ford twice in what was an eventful day.

Ryan Champion was competitive after returning to a Peugeot and was lying in sixth place before two incidents saw him remove the front of his Peugeot on a tight chicane.

Richard Hill and Daniel Stone showed excellent promise winning the top Rookie placing with an excellent 21st place, just outside the prize money. This improvement in seeding won them the award of a subscription for Motoring News. Other sponsor awards saw Australian James Gloster and Linda Whitmore take £100 to benefit their service crew from Hella, while Kevin Furber was rewarded with the Esoo Ultron spirit of the rally award.

he first round of the ladies title challenge went to Sabrina Shaw and Joanne Lockwood easing out newcomers Grace Owen and Ali Bohm.

Despite the incredible level of competiton and arduous nature of the stages every Peugeot made the finish line, demonstrating the reliability and strength of this little car.

The cars reconvene on the Granite Rally in Aberdeen on the 8th April.