Posted: January 6, 2005 9:00 AM - 4270 Hits
Round 1 - 04-05 206 Winter Cup
206 Winter Cup Report
O'Brien Basks in Winter Sun
Luton driver Mike O’Brien emerged from the forests of Dumfries and Galloway on
Sunday to take victory by 11 seconds James Robertson on round 1 of the Special
Tuning (UK) Limited Peugeot 206 Winter Cup, after 40 miles of the tough and
demanding Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally.
Posted: January 6, 2005 9:00 AM
With Peugeot Total 206 Super Cup regular Mike Faulkner entering the event as a
one-off thank you to mechanic Steve Clark and electing not to register for the
Winter Cup, six crews took the start from a sunny Castle Douglas.
The 11.9 miles of the opening stage proved to be more than a challenge for many
of the 130 starters on the event, and the 206 Winter Cup crews suffered their
fair share of problems in the very slippy conditions. Paul Kiely and Charlie
Donnelly left the road and inflicted substantial damage to their car, retiring
on the spot, and with Andy Pawley and Ian Bevan unable to extracte their
otherwise
undamaged Peugeot from the ditch it had come to rest in, four cars emerged
unscathed from the test, but with Strabane’s Colin Britton troubled with cooling
problems.
Britton and Co-driver Kenny Hull had worked wonders to get the car to the event,
having rolled the car earlier in the week, and cruel luck saw them out of time
before the radiator was replaced. They continued for stages 2 and 3 for match
practice, setting good times in the process before retiring out of time.
At first service just 9 seconds separated leader Michael O’Brien from second
placed James Robertson, with local driver James revelling in the support form
spectators on his home event, and planning to change to the soft compound Kumho
tyres for the remainder of the event.
Heading for the testing Dalbeattie stage, leader O’Brien was coping well with
his first ever Peugeot Cup lead, “We just have to make sure were still here at
the end” said O’Brien as the cars left service.
Robertson and O’Brien returned to service having set equal times on stage 3.
Robertson remained concerned about a bent control arm, and hoped that local
knowledge would help him claw back the 9 second defecit.
Third placed Barry Horan from Sligo, partnered by Simon Mills were happy with
their third position, “We’ll just stay where we are and be ready should the
battle up front see either Mike or Jim make a
mistake”, said a very pleased Horan.
With O’Brien taking 1 second on both stage 4 and 5 from Robertson, it was a
delighted crew who returned to Castle Douglas and the waiting champagne, taking
his maiden Peugeot win. Second placed Jim Robertson was pleased with his finish
after an indifferent 2004 season, feeling he is back on the pace and ready for
next season.
“I’m delighted to have made it back with the lead, it’s been very slippy and
muddy out there”, said 206 Winter Cup leader O’Brien.
Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally 2004
Result
74 Michael O’Brien/Barry Young 50:04 31st overall
72 James Robertson/Mike Rollo 50:15 34th overall
73 Barry Horan/Simon Mills 53:11 53rd overall
43 Colin Britton/Kenny Hull DNF OTL
45 Andy Pawley/Ian Bevean DNF Accident SS1
75 Paul Kiely/Charlie Donnelly DNF Accident SS1