Bulldog Stages - 21 Oct 06

Posted: October 24, 2006 11:27 PM

---

Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene win rally
MIDDLETON WINS ANCRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
The battle for the 2006 MSA Gravel Rally Championship finally went the way of Welshman Craig Middleton after a last round fight saw him get the better of main championship rival Roger Duckworth on the fast and flowing roads of the Mid Welsh forests which comprised the Bulldog Rally.

Middleton, from Llandrindod Wells and Royston co driver Robin Hernaman (Hyundai Accent WRC) claimed third place overall on the Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club-organised event but more importantly, they finished ahead of the Towcester pairing of ex champion Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield (Subaru WRC) who claimed fourth overall after mechanical gremlins thwarted their slim chances.

Finnish driver Andreas Mikkelsen won the rally outright in his Ford Focus WRC but not being registered for the ANCRO series meant he didn?t score championship points, instead that was left to the rejuvenated Steve Perez (Ford Focus WRC) whose late charge just edged Middleton out of runner up spot meaning the 2004 champion, along with stand-in co driver Peter Martin, took maximum ANCRO points.

However, the day was about Middleton who was simply overcome with jubilation on the Bulldog Rally Base finish ramp:

?It hasn?t sunk in yet? said Craig. ?We made a good start but I found the opening loop of stages were unpredictable and tricky. Then as the rally progressed, I found I was losing concentration and I started worrying that things may go wrong. But luckily for me they didn?t and here we are. It?s a very strange feeling indeed.?

For Duckworth, it wasn?t to be and knowing nothing short of his inaugural victory of 2006 would be needed, he struggled from the outset with problems. A faulty differential switch caused him to lose time on the opening loop and then persistent brake problems thwarted his bid to challenge the leaders leaving him nearly a minute behind his championship challenger at the finish:

?Naturally I?m very disappointed but we knew it was always going to be a long shot for us to win this championship here. We could have done without the problems and once again, I?m the Bridesmaid but all credit to Craig, he?s done a magnificent job and is a worthy champion? said the 1998 winner.

Having missed the previous round, Clay Cross businessman Steve Perez had to draft in the experienced Scot Peter Martin for the event and once the paid got into their rhythm, they shot up the leader board to claim second place behind Mikkelsen:

?That?s more like it? beamed Perez! ??I?ve really enjoyed the event although I struggled to understand Peter in the early stages due to his strong Scottish accent! However, once we got into the groove, it all started going well and it?s great to finish top of the ANCRO points scorers once again as it?s been a long time.?

Dorchester?s Anthony Willmington sat out the event after already clinching victory in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup ahead of North Yorkshire driver Stephen Petch who ended up retiring after problems with the transmission on SS1 but in the hotly contested Subaru Group N Trophy, Welshman Wyn Humphries took the win ahead of Towcester?s Rob Smith after Scotsman Alistair Tough crashed out on SS4.

Ulsterman Declan Magee celebrated wrapping up the TMS Peugeot 206 Super Cup last time out with another victory and in the ANCRO Clubman?s Championship, the Ford Fiesta ST of Tynesider Chris Moore emerged victorious to land the honours in that class.

---

Fiesta SportingTrophy UK: Hughes wins Bulldog, Moore takes title.
Chris Moore has won the first VK Vodka Kick backed Fiesta SportingTrophy UK championship  - and the Fiesta ST road car and entry for Wales Rally GB that goes with it – after a thrilling season conclusion on the Bulldog Clubmans Rally based around Oswestry, an event won by Simon Hughes.

  Moore was locked in a fierce title battle with rival George Thomas which was only decided on the final stage of the 45 mile event. Just one stage before Moore had thought his title chances were gone after an off, losing the 31 year-old fireman 10 seconds.

  But it was the final stage where Moore’s luck held – and Thomas saw his luck run out. A difficult corner was to prove to be the 20 year-old student from Hereford’s undoing, and Moore saw his title rival stood at the side of the road as he continued his charge.  

The Innovation Motorsports driver still had to take second place in the rally to ensure he took the title, and this he was to achieve by a mere 0.8 seconds from a hard-charging Kevin Davies.

  Through this, the rally win was taken by Simon Hughes, who drove strongly throughout the day. Hughes has been quick all season, and also wins the Castrol Award for Stage Wins, with 16 fastest stages set over the year. Hughes was the first two wheel drive car home in the Clubmans Rally and headed four Fiesta STs finishing inside the top ten.  

The day had started with neither of the title protagonists or the rally winner fastest out of the blocks. Halfords employee Tom Walster was half a second faster than Thomas to head the field at the end of the first outing.  Walster also went on to set the fastest time on the final test, giving him the Castrol Hard Charger Award for the day.  

The second stage saw Chris Moore to the fore, the Geordie going three seconds faster than Hughes to take the rally lead by just over a second heading into the mid-way service of the four stage event.  

Stage three proved treacherous for Moore with his off taking him past a pile of logs and depositing him stalled in the middle of another stage. He was able to restart and get back on course, but given the closeness of the competition he thought his title chances were ruined.  

That was until he saw George Thomas stood at the side of the road of the final stage just before a corner where Moore’s co-driver, Richard  Edwards, had rolled two years previously. With Thomas now unable to score, Moore still had to get the points for second place to secure the title.  

The final stage was Walster’s in terms of fastest time, but Moore did enough to keep the superb charge of Kevin Davies up the order at bay. Davies left the midway service in fifth place and made back 16 seconds on the opposition to finish in third.  

Fourth spot was Walsters but fifth in the results was Barry Clark, the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team driver in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship contesting this event as a one-off. Clark was faster than winner Hughes on three of the four stages, but was off the pace on the second stage which dropped him down the order.  

Sixth was taken by Adam Gould who also won the award for most improved driver during the course of the season. Every Fiesta ST save for that of Thomas made it home, a testament to the strength and reliability of the cars at the end of the first season of the highly popular championship which has already announced its calendar for 2007.  

But at the end of the day Chris Moore had the most to celebrate. His championship prize haul includes a new Fiesta ST road car, an entry on Wales Rally GB thanks to Welsh Technium, the VK Prize Drive - a rally contested in the VK Vodka Kick Ford Focus RS WRC 05, an entry to The Apprentice shoot out for the chance to work at M-Sport and shakedown the WRC and S1600 cars and free entries to all ANCRO rounds next season.  

Fiesta SportingTrophy UK competitors will next be seen out in action in Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB, on December 1-3 where they will be competing alongside drivers in the Fiesta SportingTrophy International.

  Driver Quotes  
Simon Hughes #73
It’s nice to show we can win rallies as well as win stages and that’s our second Fiesta win of the year. We went a bit steady on the first stage, probably too steady and dropped too much time from being cautious. On the second stage we pushed on more and it was good. It was very close going in to the afternoon and we pushed fairly hard.

  Chris Moore #71
It’s fantastic to win and it hasn’t sunk in yet. We were full lightweight spec for this rally. No toolkit, no oil, no water, no food, we’ve never had so little in the car. On the first stage we lost some time as we tried going uphill with the handbrake on! I clicked the handbrake off and it was fine again but I was furious with myself. The second stage was fine although half way through we thought we weren’t going fast enough, but the times said otherwise.  

On the third stage we went long at a corner blocked with logs and ended up stalled in the middle of another stage. Fortunately we got the car restarted, but I thought we’d lost it then. I couldn’t believe it when we saw George at the side of the road, it must have been so hard for him. Next stop now is Wales Rally GB, although I have to sort a car as mine’s already hired out!

  Kevin Davies #72
It’s been tidy. The stages weren’t slippery, even where the looked like they might be and I thought I’d have to back off. Everything has been going well and I’ve enjoyed it. The second stage was quite rough and I wanted to go faster. In the afternoon we went from fifth to third, thank you very much! To make 16 seconds back was nice and tidy.

  Tom Walster #84
There were no problems and we seem to have been keeping the pace on all of the stages apart from the third one. We dropped a load of time there and I’m not sure why exactly. On the last stage we were in it and went in the ditch a couple of times, once in front of my fan club with their ‘Tommi’ banner! I really wanted to help George Thomas in his title bid but fair play to Chris Moore, he’s done a great job all year.

  Barry Clark #75
I was struggling with the notes, it’s been so long since I used organisers notes rather than my own or since I did a rally without a recce. Because of that I was over-driving in the morning, getting the car sideways and cooking the brakes. The afternoon was much better and we were second fastest both times. This was just a one-off for me in the FST UK and its definitely a different mindset.  

Adam Gould #88
The first stage was pretty crap for us, we just couldn’t get a rhythm. The second stage was a lot better until we nearly lost it when we came in to a left hander 30 mph too fast. It was a real heart-thumper, but not so bad for me as it was on the co-driver’s side! It was good to get to the end with the car in one piece although I think I should have gone better on this one.

  George Thomas #70
The first stage felt fine then the second one was quite rough. It felt like the car wasn’t pulling properly, but maybe I was changing up too early. I was slightly on the back foot but I put in a good fight for it in the afternoon. It was a silly mistake when we went off and we would have won the rally otherwise. I’m gutted.

---

Moore wins TWO championships, by the slightest margin EVER
One point, achieved by a mere 0.8 seconds was all it took, but right now Chris Moore and Richard Edwards along with the entire Innovation Motorsports team are celebrating being champions of BOTH the Fiesta Sporting Trophy and the ANCRO Clubman’s Championship.

The team headed to Wales at the weekend for the final round of both championship- the Bulldog Rally, knowing that in order to be crowned champions they needed to finish in either first or second place, with the current championship leader George Thomas behind them. A tall order it seemed, however Moore had remained unbeaten in Welsh forests this season, having taken victory on the previous two events held there this season, so despite the obvious pressure the team were confident of a good result.

A few small mistakes on the first stage left the pair in third place, three seconds off the lead, so they knuckled down to business on the second fourteen mile Gartheiniog stage to set the fastest time to claim the lead by four seconds. Another mistake on stage three dropped the pair to third, so the final stage required an almighty push if they were going to take the championship crown they so desperately wanted.

Driving on the limit through the first part of the stage they were making up time, until they came over a crest to find the stricken car of Thomas at the side of the road. He had crashed out. Providing they could get the car to the finish they would win the championship, so they backed off ensuring they would make it to the finish unscathed. However unbeknown to them Kevin Davies was charging hard determined to claim the final podium spot, and had closed to within 0.8 seconds at the end. Had he overtook them the title would have been lost!

Back at the finish a typically ecstatic Moore reflected on the days events:
"I’m absolutely delighted for myself and the entire team! To be honest I can’t quite believe it. I don’t think I drove particularly well today, as I made quite a few silly mistakes. I’ve never been in a position to win such fantastic prizes so the pressure was starting to show. We backed off on the final stage once we saw Thomas had retired, and very nearly threw it all away. I had no idea Kevin was so close behind us!"
"There are so many people I would like to thank for making this all come together, particularly my sponsor Simon Wing of Newark Joinery who has helped tremendously this year. All the team at Innovation Motorsports have done an impeccable job right from the start, and my girlfriend Sabrina who has supported me in everything we have done. Rich has done a fantastic job this year on the notes, and everyone else who has contributed- they all deserve this win!"

In claiming victory Moore picks up a whole host of prizes, including a brand new Fiesta ST road car, free entry to Wales Rally GB - the final round of this years World Rally Championship, free entries to all ANCRO National events next season, a trophy for first place overall and first place in the Dealer Cup. He has also secured his place in the M Sport International Shoot out on December 8th and 9th- where the prize is a contract with World Championship team M Sport.

Chris would like to thank his sponsors Simon Wing of Newark Joinery, Innovation Motorsports, RallySchool UK, RallySchool Norway, GoRallying.com. CMWI.net, GreerSport and everyone else who has contributed help and support throughout the season.

Doors have started to open for this talented Geordie Firefighter, and an announcement on his future is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

---

Results
1 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC) 1:06:29.3
2 Steve Perez/Peter Martin (Ford Focus WRC) -53.3
3 Craig Middleton/Robin Hernaman (Hyundai Accent WRC) -58.5
4 Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru Impreza WRC) - 1:43.6
5 Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Ford Focus WRC) - 2:47.9
6 Julian Reynolds/Shelley Rogerson (Subaru Impreza N12) - 3.52.3

Full Results:
Bulldog Rally

• 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2006 Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK

---

PRE EVENT NEWS

• Fiesta finale to thrill on Bulldog.
• MIDDLETON IN DRIVING SEAT ON CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER…
• Bulldog Has A ‘Pup’
• Regulations available

---

13/10/06
Fiesta finale to thrill on Bulldog.
The VK Vodka Kick backed Fiesta SportingTrophy UK has its thrilling season finale at the Bulldog Clubmans Rally on Saturday October 21st as competitors have their final opportunity to score points with the title – and brand new Fiesta ST road car that goes with it - still up for grabs.  

Fireman Chris Moore and student George Thomas are embroiled in a head-to-head battle to win the championship in its inaugural year and everything is to play for in the 45 miles spread over four stages of the Oswestry-based event.

  “It’s going to be pretty nerve-racking and there’s a lot lying on it,” says Thomas, 20, from Hereford. “That said, I’m pretty chilled out and I’m not going to get wound up. I’m just going to drive my own rally and beat Chris!”  

In Moore’s camp there has been preparation aplenty ahead of the season decider. “We have been through the car with a fine tooth comb and have ironed out the problems we had on the last event,” says Moore, 31, from Sunderland. “The gearbox, diff and driveshafts have all been rebuilt and the car is now about as good as it has ever been.”  

In third position in the standings, Kevin Davies from Carmarthenshire knows he can no longer take the championship title, but there’s still a chance to take his first rally win of the season.  

“I can still keep up the pressure,” says Davies who recently celebrated his 22nd birthday. “I’ve never done the Bulldog, although I’ve probably driven some of the stages before. It would be nice to win a rally even though I can’t win the championship.”  

The top competitor this season in terms of fastest stage times has been Conwy’s Simon Hughes. The 23 year-old bodyshop manager currently has racked up 16 Castrol Award Stage Wins, seven better than his nearest rival. He wants to improve that tally too.  

“I’ve set the most fastest stage times this year and no-one can beat me there,” says Hughes, who is fourth in the standings and won the Jim Clark Rally. “What I want to do is end the year with double the amount of anyone else and I think that would be point proven.”  

Fifth in the standings is County Cork’s Owen Murphy, winner of the season-opening Malcolm Wilson Rally. “I did the Bulldog Rally last year but I can’t really remember the stages too well,” says Murphy. “I know there’ll be gravel and some trees! My aim is to keep the car straight and finish with no damage so I can celebrate the end of the year in style.”  

Halfords employee Tom Walster from Nottingham sits sixth in the standings and reckons the Bulldog will reward a flat-out approach. “I did the Bulldog last year and from what I saw of the stages it’s going to be very fast,” says Walster.  

“The stages really were awesome and I think, who wins will be the bravest behind the wheel. It’s going to be fierce competition and I’ve seen Barry Clark on the entry list. It’ll be nice to beat him if we can.”

  Clark, a Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team driver in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship and Stobart VK Rally Team driver in the Fiesta SportingTrophy International is contesting this event in a GpN Fiesta ST identical to the FST UK cars.

  Although not registered for FST UK points, Clark is using the event to get some gravel practice ahead of Wales Rally GB at the end of the year.

  “It’s a good opportunity to get some experience on some Welsh gravel stages in the GpN Fiesta,” says Clark, who finished third in class in International Rally Yorkshire earlier in October. “It’ll be the most Fiesta STs I’ve competed against but I’ll just be doing my own thing as I can’t score points.” 

  Of the regular FST UK competitors any of four drivers can take the Competition Car Insurance Award for Most Improved Over the Year. Richard Moore currently leads but Adam Gould, Ian Gillespie and Richard Parry Jones can all take the prize.

  With its fast stages and the intensity of the competition the Bulldog could certainly bite, but only one driver can go home with the title in pride of place along with the brand new Fiesta ST.

  The Bulldog Clubmans Rally takes place on Saturday 21st October with the first car leaving rally base at Oswestry at 09.15 and finishing at 15.25. The event covers 45 stage miles spread over four stages.

---

08/10/06
MIDDLETON IN DRIVING SEAT ON CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER…
The battle for the 2006 MSA Gravel Rally Championship reaches its climax on Saturday 21st October when the final round of the dramatic series is played out on the fast and flowing roads of the Mid Welsh forests which comprises the Bulldog Rally.

Just two drivers are in contention for the prestigious title following an exciting season which has seen the destiny of the title swing one way and then back the other meaning for a second year running; the championship will be decided on the very last round.

Going into the Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club event as favourites are Llandrindod Wells driver Craig Middleton who along with co driver Robin Hernaman from Royston holds all the aces after taking their third win of the season last time out in Scotland. An eighth place finish will guarantee the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing the title although following two retirements already this season; they cannot take anything for granted.

Challenging them will be the Towcester pairing of former champion Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield who need to win the rally in their Subaru WRC and hope that Middleton strikes trouble. Given they’ve not managed to take the winner’s spoils all season long, it will be a tough task but consistency has been the name of the game for the Midlanders this season and it could pay off.

But whilst the championship may be about two crews, there are plenty of others hoping to round off the ANCRO season in style including former champion Steve Perez and co driver Scott Martin in their Ford Focus WRC. Perez missed the last round and as a result, ruled his slim chances of repeating his 2004 success out and at the time of writing, entries were still to be received from front runners Barry Johnson (Subaru WRC) and Marcus Dodd (Hyundai Accent WRC). However, Londoner Richard Gower has been a major force this season and he could well figure in the results in his Hyundai Accent WRC but it’s not just about the National driver’s championship, there are plenty of others set to be decided on the Bulldog, as well as a couple already sorted.

Dorchester’s Anthony Willmington has proved to be ‘Mr Consistency’ in his Mitsubishi Lancer this season and after taking his fourth victory of the season on the Park Systems, he clinched the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup ahead of North Yorkshire driver Stephen Petch who could clinch runner up spot with a victory but in the Subaru Group N Trophy, the three way battle between Welshman Wyn Humphries, Inverness driver Alistair Tough, and Towcester’s Rob Smith will go down to the wire in a ‘winner takes all’ scenario.

Ulsterman Declan Magee wrapped up the TMS Peugeot 206 Super Cup last time out and in the ANCRO Clubman’s Championship, the Ford Fiesta ST trio of Pencombe driver George Thomas, Cleadon’s Chris Moore and Tom Walster from Nottingham are separated by just three points. In the Innovation Motorsports Challenge Cup, it’s even closer with Willmington and Tough separated by a single point.

The important Group N Manufacturers title is also going down to the wire between Prodrive Subaru and Ralliart Mitsubishi who are tied on points although M-Sport Ford have already boxed off the Group A crown.

Comprising qualifying rounds for no less than twelve championships, including the Eurorallye Cup and the OSG Motorsport and Dutton Tyres MSA Welsh National Forest Rally Championship, the first of the ANCRO National competitors leaves the start at the Bulldog Rally Base at 08.00 on Saturday morning before returning to the finish at around 17.00.

The rally also encompasses the innovative ‘Mini Rally’ which will allow prospective competitors the opportunity to sample two stages of forest rallying for a fraction of the cost and already, there has been a good take up for the available entries.

The rally marks ANCRO Chairman and Bulldog Rally Clerk of the Course John Trevethick’s 25th and final year in charge of the series finale. In his first year in charge back in 1981, the late, great Henri Toivonen, along with Fred Gallagher were the winners. Other names on the winner’s trophy include Pat Moss, Pentii Airikkala, Ari Vatanen, Markku Alen, Michelle Mouton, Tony Pond, Stig Blomqvist and Malcolm Wilson.

Competing on the event as a tribute to one of British rallying’s stalwarts, former champion Steve Petch (Hyundai Accent WRC) is planning on coming out of retirement to contest the 70 stage mile event, as indeed is Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC), himself a champion of the past in the ANCRO series.

Entries officially close on Tuesday 17th October.

Bulldog Rally

• 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2006 Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK

---

10/09/06
Bulldog Has A ‘Pup’
Well know rally organising club Wolverhampton and South Staffs has scored another exciting first for British Rallying as it incorporates a mini rally within the famous 2006 Bulldog Rally.

This new event of only two stages is competitively priced to appeal to crews of all ages, who have never ventured into the forests.

The one day event has been organised with a late morning start and a early afternoon finish so that crews need no overnight accommodation.

Clerk of the Course, John Trevethick says “The Bulldog Mini Rally is intended to give competitors a taste of the thrills of forest rallying. Currently the high cost of forest stages is putting off new recruits and this is an attempt to address the problem.”

The Bulldog takes place on 21st October and is based in Oswestry in the Welsh Marches. The route is centred on the classic mid-Wales stages used for so many years on Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship.

The regulations for the Bulldog Rally, Bulldog Clubmans Rally and the Bulldog Mini Rally have been published and are available from:

Bulldog Rally

• 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2006 Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK