Galloway Glory for Morrow - Round 1 206 Winter Cup

Posted: December 5, 2002 9:58 AM

206 Super Cup veteran Ben Roper’s late entry came to nothing very early in Stage 1, the 12 mile of Bennan, crashing out after remembering that he had also crashed out on a nearby stage on the Scottish Rally some six months earlier. This first stage was also to prove the undoing of another experienced man and favourite for the event Mike Faulkner who along with Richard Sykes and Leon Pesticcio suffered a puncture on the opening test. The resulting suspension damage to Faulkner’s car later caused driveshaft failure and his hopes came to an end on Stage 2, but the earlier puncture did not prevent Sykes from setting fastest time on the stage. Pesticcio was unable to hear his co-driver Craig Parry’s notes when their intercom failed on Stage 1, but most drivers reported struggling to get to grips with the unfamiliar noting system.
Clive Wheeler made a steady start in his new car having only driven it for the first time today, saying “I’m in a new car, with new notes, and I’m not used to having so many gears.”.

Stage 2 was an eight miler through Glengap and newcomer Sebastian Ling was fastest by three seconds to give him an overall lead of 5 seconds over Olly Marshall, showing early on that he means business. Richard Sykes had dropped to third after losing his place in the notes half way through. However, he had recently been to the Mark Higgins Rally School and was pleased to be putting into practice what he had learnt. Leon Pesticcio was getting to grips with his new car but suffering from brake problems which caused the car to over-rev under braking. Tim Cowper was bringing up the rear coming into first service, but was quite happy driving at his own pace and determined to bring his new car to the finish.

It was another newcomer, 17 year old Stuart Jones’ turn to set fastest time on Stage 3, the five miles of Dalbeattie, although Marshall’s equal fastest was enough to give him the overall lead. Pesticcio’s service crew attempted to get his brakes sorted at Service in Castle Douglas but the problems reappeared on this stage, while Clive Wheeler ended his hopes of a good finish when he rolled his 206 at high speed causing substantial damage to the driver’s side of the car, but he continued to the end. Sebastian Ling ended his excellent Cup debut on this stage, retiring after a double puncture and track control arm failure while in the lead. His valiant effort is rewarded with the Total Quartz 9000 oil.

The final two stages after second Service were Cairn Edward at twelve miles, followed immediately by seven miles in Loch Grannoch. Pesticcio set his first fastest time on Stage 4 to prove that he will be a man to watch in future, while 17 year old Stuart Jones admitted to a lack of concentration in Stage 4. Martin Evans commented that he was desperate to reach the finish of the event, as he hadn’t finished an event for six months, so will be delighted to not only finish, but in the money!

Shane McCarthy was the only representative from Southern Ireland, and typically Irish, had not competed on gravel before. However, despite finding his car was “floating” on the slippery gravel surface, he finished, trying to put as many miles as possible under his belt before his charge on the 206 Super Cup 2003.

Jon Tucker’s event went downhill just before the flying finish on Stage 4 when he went off on a left hand bend over a crest, nosing a bank and damaging the radiator but limped through Stage 5 and to the finish. However, Matt Jessup failed to get to the finish when he damaged his radiator on the same test. Richard Sykes went into the last stage with a 4 second cushion over newcomer Phillip Morrow, but the dream of winning the inaugural 206 Winter Cup first round ended with a puncture midway through the stage. Phillip, with brother Simon alongside, put in a charge, set fastest time, and won the event by six seconds finishing 22nd overall. It was a double delight for the brothers as Phillip had been awarded with the Northern Ireland Junior Driver of the year just the day before, making this a great weekend. “My Mum is in tears.” said the delighted son! 17 year old Stuart Jones was another 6 seconds behind that, in his 3rd ever event, also winning a Motorsport News subscription for best improvement in seeding. Nine of the fourteen starters gained the finish line, all crews ok.

Final Results:
Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow	48:25
Richard Sykes/Mark McAllister	48:31
Stuart Jones/Andy Marchbank	48.37
Leon Pesticcio/Craig Parry	48:52
Martin Evans/Shaun O’Gorman	49:58
Clive Wheeler/Ken Bartram	50:09
Shane McCarthy/Tony Mulcahy	50:18
Jon Tucker/Scott Cleverden	51:02
Tim Cowper/Ashley Fowler	54.20