206 Winter Cup - Will it be Three From Three for Rowlands?

Posted: February 9, 2004 1:25 PM

Despite its appearance as a stop gap championship, it has been well attended with competitors braving both the forests of Scotland in December and Wales in January. With its base in Chepstow, the Wyedean Forest Rally means the series encompasses events in each of the UKs mainland countries. Whilst missing out on a rally, Ireland has been represented by several competitors making the journey across the water.

The Championship has been short and sharp but bad luck for some front runners does not detract from the competitiveness of champion in waiting, Ieuan Rowlands, who has only to drive over the ramp in Chepstow to take the crown. There is no doubt that the competition will still be fierce as the Winter warriors are joined by competitors warming up for the first round of the 206 Super Cup two weeks later.

The first of the Irish contenders holds second in the championship and Gareth MacHale whilst wanting to win the final round as much as anyone has a longer term plan to win the Super Cup. He will put the pressure on 2003 Kumho Clubmans Champion Rowlands who takes the wheel of his 1600cc 150bhp Peugeot for only the third time, his prize for winning the privately run Prospeed scholarship.

Next is Michael OBrien who will be hoping to improve on two fifth places. His consistency puts him fourth in the championship and although the ever cheerful Irishman is running last Peugeot on the rally, he will no doubt be happy at the finish whatever the outcome.

Fifth in the series after the second round is Scotsman James Robertson who was unfortunate to drop to fourth place on the last stage of the Red Kite Rally. He was a late entry on the Wyedean and will be hoping for a run from the reserve list.

Paul Jones has had a mixed series with one second place and one retirement. The non finish was due to an easily replaced clutch, so he will want to finish with a flourish. With the best two from three rounds counting, he could still take second in the championship with a win on the final round.

Eighth place is held by a young man for whom speed is no stranger. Tom Boardman is more used to the door-to-door argy-bargy of touring cars but despite this has surprised the rallying fraternity. His third place on round one was on the brink of being bettered when suspension damage caused his retirement from second place in Wales; definitely one to watch.

Rounding off the championship is Richard Phillipson who recovered from a monumental accident in Scotland and eased himself back into the forests with a creditable sixth place. His aim as always will be to improve throughout the rally without damaging the car again!

Making a welcome return to the series after a first round accident sidelined him for a couple of months is Alistair Moffat. The youngster showed his speed at the wheel of a 106 in 2003 and briefly led in Scotland so will want a clean run and return match with Rowlands.

Another with Peugeot experience is Matt Barker who takes the wheel of his prize drive 206XS. He won the 2003 205 Challenge and is keen to show his ability in more modern machinery.

Finally Stephen Petch has family honour to fulfil. Having competed in other one make series, Stephen, son of Steve, wants to make a name for himself in the 2004 Peugeot TOTAL 206 Super Cup. The Richmond based driver is the latest to buy a brand new car, using the Wyedean as a shakedown but still a threat to the front-runners.

The quality stages in the Forest of Dean will prove a good test for the final round of this popular series. With the prospect of more Peugeot entries from competitors readying themselves for 2004, the Wyedean Forest Rally will be a fitting climax to the Peugeot TOTAL 206 Winter Cup.

• www.peugeot.co.uk/motorsport

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08/01/04
206 Winter Cup: Rowlands Makes it Two from Two on Home Ground
Red Kite Stages Rally, January 4th, 2004

A different country hosted the second round of the Peugeot TOTAL 206 Winter Cup when the action moved to mid Wales for the Red Kite Stages Rally. The weather was also very different, mild with thick patchy rolling fog in the valleys

Based in Llandovery, the event comprised nine stages totalling 41 miles in the Crychan and Halfway forest complex with central service on the Eppynt Military road.

Championship leaders Ieuan Rowlands set the pace on the first two stages in Crychan, coming into service 8th overall and leading the Peugeots by a comfortable 26 seconds despite catching a car on the first stage and sliding wide on a couple of hairpins on the second. In second place and an impressive 10th overall, BTCC driver Tom Boardman complained of not being committed enough when driving blind in the fog, but after a clear run on stage 2 said I just want to go again. Paul Jones had a disaster, getting lost on the notes in the fog, but maintained fourth place behind Gareth MacHale, who admitted to being just too cautious in the poor visibility, a couple of small spins not adding to his confidence. James Robertson did well to get into fifth place, struggling as he found the fog getting worse on Stage 2. On only his second rally as a driver, Paul Kiely was sixth, loving it despite the conditions and Barry Horan said it was desperate, there was one section in the middle where I just couldnt see at all. Richard Phillipson said I am just keeping it the right way up, we havent broken any records, but we havent broken anything else either! Bringing up the rear in ninth place, Michael OBrien was having a dreadful day, losing the power steering towards the end of the first stage making the second stage hairpins almost impossible to negotiate. His misery was complete when he temporarily lost all electrics.

Following a 20 minute service, the crews headed for the next loop of three stages. First retirement of the day was Paul Jones/Steve Smallbone whose clutch failed shortly into Stage 3, Blaen Cwm. Tom Boardman/Craig Parry were to suffer mechanical failure and retire on the subsequent road section. Rowlands was getting used to the car and the notes and everything was coming together. The Kumho tyres were working well and he was planning to replace the fronts with new tyres at the second service. Second placed man Gareth MacHale said Rowlands has taken more time off me, and I dont know why, I cant put my finger on it, but Im ready for the last loop. James Robertson was starting to enjoy himself in third place, despite losing his place in the notes on Stage 5 and reporting a drastic drop in speed in the fog. Ive never been here before he said, and Im a wee bit nervous. Paul Kiely was struggling to get up the hills and had had a problem on a square right into square left, tucking the car into the bank and damaging the steering. In fifth place, Michael OBriens steering was still giving him some problems and he was keeping his fingers crossed to get to the finish. Barry Horan said Im having a great run, getting to grips with the car. Can you lift the fog for me?. He was swapping times with Richard Phillipson, equal going into the last loop.

The last three stages were a repeat of the previous three. Phillipson was delighted to finish with the car undamaged after his big accident on the previous round. After their close tussle all day, he finished sixth in front of Barry Horan who struggled more than most in the fog. Michael OBriens steering had been properly fixed at the last service and he had a clean run through the last stage to finish fifth. James Robertson had battled all day with Kiely and although enjoying Stage 8 best of all, was disappointed to drop to fourth. Paul Kiely had thoroughly enjoyed himself and was delighted to steal third on the last stage despite his suspension scare. In second place, Gareth MacHale was disappointed not to win. However, he said You should not read too much into my result this weekend; Ive been trying out different driving styles as my main focus is the Peugeot TOTAL 206 Super Cup in 2004.

At the end of the day, with eight out of eight fastest stage times to his credit and lying 6th overall in the main event, it was Ieuan Rowlands and Kelvin Savage who proved themselves worthy winners. We came here to show that our result in Scotland was not a fluke, and we have done just that. The championship is great, but I am surprised we did not have more competition here this weekend. Peugeot have made a good choice with Kumho too, our tyres worked really well this weekend.

The final round of the Championship is the Wyedean Forest Rally on Saturday 14th February, which Rowlands merely has to start to tie up the Peugeot TOTAL 206 Winter Cup.

Results:

1 Ieuan Rowlands/Kelvin Savage 51:29
2 Gareth MacHale/Clive Jenkins 53:32
3 Paul Kiely/Eugene Donnelly 57:33
4 James Robertson/Mike Rollo 57:35
5 Michael OBrien/Simon Coates 58:22
6 Richard Phillipson/Brian Cammack 59:14
7 Barry Horan/Simon Mills 59:58

• www.peugeot.co.uk/motorsport

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02/12/03
Peugeot TOTAL 206 Winter Cup POST Galloway Hills Newcomer Rowlands Top of the Class
Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally, December 7th, 2003

Following the hugely successful inaugural season, the second year of the Peugeot TOTAL 206 Winter Cup returned to Castle Douglas in the Scottish Borders for the first of the three rounds, the Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally. The 43 stage mile event started with clear skies and sub zero temperatures, making all stages treacherous under the trees where the low sun didnt reach. Newcomer to the 206 series, but the winner of the 106 Bonus Scheme from BTRDA, Alastair Moffat showed his mettle on the first stage. He was six seconds up on the 9 miles of Glen Gap, taking the lead from another newcomer, Ieuan Rowlands, also a 2003 champion, though Rowlands cut his teeth in the ANCRO Clubmans Championship. By taking the Pro-Speed scholarship, he has earned his prize in the 206 Winter Cup.

Usual front runner Gareth MacHale had a few spins on this first stage, so was lying fourth, with Kent man Paul Jones taking the third spot despite a few sideways moments. But a few of the Cup runners had already fallen foul of the conditions. Matt Jessup only made a few corners into this first stage when he was off, going over time before his undamaged car was extricated from the bushes. James Robertson was another in a ditch, unfortunately sustaining some front wing damage from the previous car which was still in that ditch, but after taking a stage maximum, he continued, well down the order. Third off roader on this first test was Richard Phillipson, but he was unable to continue after landing on his roof.

Series newcomers Michael OBrien was off in a field through this first stage, while Paul Kiely had taken the drivers seat and swapped his usual place with driver Eugene Donnelly. On his first gravel rally, he was glad of the experienced man alongside as its as slippy as hell. What a baptism!.

Stage 2, 9.27 miles of Belmey Water, saw MacHale clean the sheets, a scant one second ahead of leader Moffat who had caught a car on this stage. Rowlands was another four behind despite a misted screen, these three well ahead of the pack. Jones suffered a puncture on this stage, with only three inflated wheels for the last four miles, still lying fourth. The top five was completed by British Touring car driver Tom Boardman, who was really excited. The best thing I have done this year, spot on! he beamed at service. OBrien was off into another field, reckoning he had done twice the mileage of anyone else. Horan was crestfallen at the end of the stage, with his wipers and lights on, despite him not having touched anything, a similar ECU problem to last season.

Rowlands finally got settled in on Stage 3, the twisty 10.48 miles of Dalbeattie and took 13 seconds off Moffat to take the lead by six seconds. This was his favourite stage of the rally, really enjoying the tight corners and setting fastest time. MacHale meantime spent three minutes off road, bellied with only a few spectators to hand. Paul Jones had slowed on this stage, as so many previous cars were off.

MacHale was back on form on the 12 miles of Garrary, but commented that while this was the fastest stage of the day, it was also the slippiest. Rowlands was beaten by a mere two seconds here, but retained the lead by over a minute, a huge margin in Cup terms. Paul Jones was comfortable in second place. A heavy landing on this stage had cracked the gearbox casing, and the resultant loss of oil was causing difficulties with gear selection, so he wasnt about to push any harder. Tom Boardman had moved into third place, the racing driver thoroughly enjoying his day.

The last test of the day was run in near darkness, as several time consuming delays had spread the field out. Unfortunately, the delay on Stage 4 was caused by earlier leader Alastair Moffat, who hurt his hand in the accident. MacHale again managed to take fastest time, his third of the day, but wasnt enough to take higher than fourth place.

Boardman stayed third, just loving the 12 miles of Laggan of Dee. Second place was held by Paul Jones, who was delighted with his best finish of his Cup career. And the champagne was sprayed by Ieuan Rowlands and Kelvin Savage. It was a steep learning curve for the Welshman, but he was delighted, and especially for the team. He reckoned that the car was very quick and nimble, and there is still plenty more to come, once he gets to grips with his new steed.

Michael OBrien was very steady at the end, his low start number meant he was running in near dark at the last stage. Paul Kiely was in the same boat, but reckoned that Stage 5 was his best stage, Barry Horan just couldnt see in stage 5, so was delighted to finish. James Robertson took up the last place, his maximum stage time earlier too much to overcome, but spent the day sorting out his suspension settings. But the day belonged to scholarship winner Ieuan Rowlands, winning his Cup debut.

1 Ieuan Rowlands/Kelvin Savage 48:26 
2 Paul Jones/Steve Smallbone 49:26 
3 Tom Boardman/Alun Cook 50:54 
4 Gareth MacHale/Clive Jenkins 52:03 
5 Michael O'Brien/Simon Coates 52:41 
6 Paul Kiely/Eugene Donnelly 53:30 
7 Barry Horan/Simon Mills 57:38 
8 James Robertson/Mike Rollo 57:38