2007 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship

Posted: August 22, 2007 4:52 PM

---

22/08/07
Slaughter junior to join the BHRC
James Slaughter, the son of seasoned campaigner Dick, is to make his debut in the MSA Dunlop/Gambia British Historic Rally Championship on the Trackrod Historic Rally in October.  

James has bought a well-sorted Escort Mk1 Pinto, originally built by Graham Standen Motorsport, the company that also looks after Dick’s Mk2 Escort. He had his first run in the car on the recent Tempest Rally Sprint.  

"The stage was a mix of tarmac and gravel and was an excellent event to cut my teeth on," reported James. "The car ran faultlessly and I managed to improve my times throughout the day, finishing 22nd overall."  

He now hopes to tackle the Plains Rally before joining the BHRC for the final round, the Trackrod in early October. "Having experienced the camaraderie of the HRCR first hand, I plan to compete in the 2008 BHRC.  

"Having spent much of my life watching dad enjoy the pleasures of sideways motoring I have finally bitten the bullet and entered my first event," says James. "I've spent many years servicing and supporting dad but due to my work commitments and rugby playing days with Belsize Park RFC I'd not been able to get behind the wheel before now."

---

14/08/07
Outdoor Services announce their sponsorship of Martin McCormack in his bid at the British Historic Championship.
"Noel Downey of Magherafelt Groundworks Company "Outdoor Services" and Martin McCormack as Outdoor Services announce their sponsorship of Martin McCormack in his bid at the British Historic Championship.

Martin has been the sensation of this years Championship winning The Pirelli Rally outright with strong finishes on other rounds. Currently third in the Classic Section that is being led by six times British Champion, Jimmy McRae with Gareth Lloyd second the McCormack team can look back on what might have been. A rally win was on the cards in Mid Wales until the car stopped and lost a minute in the Sweet Lamb water splash that has been used on Rally GB, second on Rally Isle of Man until the engine failed he's currently 3rd with only 3 scores. Undeterred the crew are looking forward to the next round of the Championship in Flanders on the weekend of 8th & 9th September.

Marty said of the deal that he was delighted that such an enthusiastic company as Outdoor Services has came on board as main sponsor. Both Noel and Martin Downey regularly compete themselves on events and fully appreciate the commitment involved to compete at this level.

The Outdoor Services Escort made its debut last weekend on the infamous tarmac ranges of Eypnt on the 2 day Harry Flatters Rally. Having suffered a blown engine on the previous round of the Championship, Rally Isle of Man, the team only made Eypnt with the loan of an engine, one of 3 engines and a complete car offered to the team by fellow competitors, such was their desire to see Martin at the next round. He eventually took the engine of well known historic competitor and fellow Magherafelt man John Keatley. Joint 2nd fastest on the 1st 4 mile test Martin and navigator Liam Moynihan were happy with their pace but unfortunately it didn't last. On stage 2 the car broke 2 rotor arms and put the crew OTL.

Martin and Liam would like to thank Outdoor Services, John Moynihan Rallying, Kumho Tyres and P & O Irish Sea for their continued support."

---

28/06/07
Golding to be remembered by BHRC award
Charles Golding, the winner of the 2002 MSA British Historic Rally Championship, will be remembered by a special award to be presented at the end of each season.

The Charles Golding Award will be presented to the highest placed driver in a self-prepared car within the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, and has been provided by Flip Golding in memory of her late husband. He died in December 2002, soon after clinching the BHRC title with his long-time co-driver, Preston Ayres.

"Charles got someone else to build his engine, although he had been known to do it himself, and he used to send away his gearbox for the occasional rebuild, but again occasionally doing it himself," said Ayres. "Everything else he prepared himself."

The award, commissioned by Flip Golding, is of brass models of cars in which Charles competed, mounted on a wooden plinth, and will be presented at the Historic Rally Car Register annual awards ceremony early in 2008.

---

19/04/07
Revised points tables for BHRC
The points' tables following round one of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship have now been amended to remove the points previously allocated Richard Tuthill and John Bennie.

The championship stewards ruled that the front hubs and shock absorbers used on their Porsche 911 on the Robin Hood Historic Forest Stages Rally (10/11 March 2007) were not eligible for use in the BHRC.

Following that ruling, the maximum points originally scored on the opening round have been deducted and the crew now go into this weekend's round two, the Pirelli Historic Rally, with zero points.

The championship stewards and championship co-ordinator recorded that Team Tuthill's attitude towards the investigations and their overall conduct was commendable.

---

10/04/07
Eligibility ruling from Championship Stewards
The championship stewards of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship have ruled that the front hubs and shock absorbers used by Richard Tuthill (car number 204) on the Robin Hood Historic Forest Stages Rally (10/11 March 2007) are not eligible for use in the championship.

The stewards met on Wednesday 4 April to consider the issue and ruled that the shock absorbers used on the Porsche 911 were not eligible for use in the BHRC.

---

15/03/07
Provisional Points after Round 1
Provisional BHRC overall driver points after one round:
1 Richard Tuthill 31
= Jimmy McRae 31
= Dessie Nutt 31
4 Bob Bean 30
5 David Stokes 29
6 Sean Lockyear 26
= Gareth Lloyd 26
8 Neil Calvert 25
= Arwel Evans 25
= Russell Morgan 25
= Terry Cree 25
etc.

Provisional BHRC overall co-driver points after one round:
1 John Bennie 31
= Geraldine McBride 31
= Andy Richardson 31
4 Malcolm Smithson 30
5 Guy Weaver 29
6 Chris Wood 26
= Joyce Champion 26
8 Martin Kenyon 25
= Arlene Cookson 25
= Ian Oakey 25
= Richard Shores 25
etc.

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

---

28/02/07
Tuthill set for BHRC challenge
Richard Tuthill could be a major contender for the 2007 Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, having confirmed plans to contest a full season with a Porsche 911.

Tuthill was the youngest driver to contest a round of the World Rally Championship when he started the 1992 Lombard RAC Rally, aged just 17. He later won the British Junior title and was second to David Higgins in the 1999 British Rally Championship and second in Group N on the '99 Wales Rally GB.

However, Richard has not rallied regularly for four seasons and last competed on a BHRC round when he dominated the 2004 Bulldog Rally. He will drive a post-historic 911 for the family Tuthill Team Porsche.

"I've only done one event in the last three years, which was the 2005 Roger Albert Clark Rally. I'm going in expecting to have a tough time, but it's time that the Tuthill team had a go at winning the championship again. We've got a wonderful customer base, but we've not won the championship since Dessie Nutt won in 2004."

Richard has also confirmed that the team is building a 911 for the classic division (category 3) and has not discounted using the car himself later in the season, possibly for the asphalt events.

"The car is in build and could be out this year. The shell is finished; it's just a question of building it up."

---

12/02/07
Gravel and asphalt awards for the BHRC
Two new awards in the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship will reward crews with particular expertise on the gravel or asphalt events.

Water End Properties will sponsor trophies for the best performance on gravel and the best performance on asphalt, which will be in addition to the regular overall championship awards.

The BHRC remains a mixed-surface championship, but organisers from the HRCR recognise that some crews have a preference for either one of the two surfaces, and the new awards will allow them to compete for end of season awards, even if they do not contest all nine rounds of the championship. Winners of the major BHRC awards will not be eligible for these trophies.

Water End Properties specialise in the development of high quality small and medium sized office buildings in the Home Counties. "We have been surprised by the high proportion of our customers that are associated with historic motorsport in some way or another," said Managing Director, Jeff Streule. ""We are specialist developers, and our sponsorship of awards for the best asphalt and gravel performances in the BHRC recognises that there are specialisms in rallying as well."

The BHRC season begins on 10/11 March with the Robin Hood Forest Stages, the first of six gravel events. The three asphalt events are grouped together during the summer months, starting with the Rally Isle of Man in July.

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

---

07/02/07
Squires switch to BHRC
Brothers Phil and Mick Squires are switching to the MSA Dunlop/Gambia British Historic Rally Championship in their familiar Ford Escort Mk2 and will open their campaign on the Robin Hood Stages next month.

"I needed a change of direction," explained Phil, one of the leading BTRDA Silver Star drivers of recent seasons. "I've done the BTRDA for six years and had a great time, but I needed a new challenge. The BHRC is probably as level a playing field as you can get."

Squires knows that the level of competition in the BHRC will be tough. "The quality of drivers in historics is massive and it's going to keep me on my toes trying to be competitive."

Although he has been competing against some highly developed Escorts in the Silver Star series, Squires has deliberately kept his car in period specification. "That's what my car is really all about," he said. It will run with a 2-litre BDG engine.

"We're going to do the first five gravel events in the BHRC and then see about the tarmac events. I'm not sure about tarmac rallies, but we might try at least one of them – maybe Flanders. I've never really done any tarmac before."

The Stoke-on-Trent brothers have already tackled the Roger Albert Clark Rally twice and are keen to do the November event again in 2007.

---

2007 BHRC sponsors unveiled
Dunlop and The Gambia are to be the title sponsors for the 2007 MSA British Historic Rally Championship. The two organisations have taken over as main sponsors for one of the fastest-growing championships in British stage rallying, which is managed by the Historic Rally Car Register.

Dunlop has been a long-time supporter of the championship and is the preferred tyre supplier for many competitors. Dunlop also provides an on-event service at BHRC events and it's on-going support of the championship is a key part of the BHRC success story.

The Gambia, meanwhile, is a stunning holiday location on the coast of West Africa and its BHRC support has been arranged by leading competitor Martin Freestone.

"We are proud to be supporting the BHRC and all those involved in making the championship go on from strength to strength," says Freestone. "The Gambia first became involved in rallying in 2004 by sponsoring the Killarney Historic Rally when Susan Waffa-Ogoo the honourable Minister of Tourism for The Gambia was guest of honour. Since then, awareness of The Gambia has encouraged many people to visit us at Kololi Beach Club and enjoy exotic holidays in The Gambia sunshine."
"We are very grateful to both Dunlop and The Gambia for offering title sponsorship for the 2007 season," says series co-ordinator Simon Marks from the Historic Rally Car Register. "We are planning for the best-ever season in the BHRC history, with more and more competitors joining the historic scene. Having two enthusiastic sponsors on board is the icing on the cake!"

In addition to the title sponsors, a further six companies have signed up to be associate sponsors for the 2007 BHRC. Mintex, Minilite, West Wales Rally Spares, Ton Hire, Competition Car Insurance and Water End Properties will all be important partners to the championship.

Regulations for the 2007 season are currently being finalised and will be available, along with championship registration, at the HRCR Open Day at Gaydon on Saturday 13 January.

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

---

2007 BHRC calendar announced
The calendar for the 2007 MSA British Historic Rally Championship has been finalised and the championship organisers from the Historic Rally Car Register have released details of the nine events that will form the 2007 championship.

As usual, the series will start with the Robin Hood Forest Stages in March, followed by the Astra Stages in April. Round three will mark a change to previous years as the BHRC joins the Pirelli International Rally for stages in the famous Kielder complex on the Carlisle-based event.

Rounds four and five will take crews back to classic Welsh stages for the Severn Valley Stages and the Mid-Wales Stages during the early summer months.

Next come three asphalt events, starting with the Manx Rally followed by a visit to Epynt for the Harry Flatters Rally, a new event on the BHRC schedule. The final asphalt event is the Tour of Flanders before the series concludes in the Yorkshire forests on the Trackrod Historic Rally.

The selection of events forming the BHRC are based on extensive and on-going competitor feedback, and the changes made for 2007 are as a result of constant monitoring of competitor views.

1. Robin Hood Stages (gravel) - 10-11 Mar 07
2. Astra Stages (gravel) - 7 Apr 07
3. Pirelli Historic Rally (gravel) - 20-21 Apr 07
4. Severn Valley Stages (gravel) -02 Jun 07
5. Mid-Wales Stages (gravel) - 23-24 Jun 07
6. Manx Historic Rally (asphalt) - 19-21 Jul 07
7. Harry Flatters Rally (asphalt) - 05 Aug 07
8. Tour of Flanders (asphalt) - 8-9 Sep 07
9. Trackrod Historic Rally (gravel) - 6 Oct 07

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)