Red Kite Stages - 20 Jan 08

Posted: January 21, 2008 3:07 PM

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Great start for new Historic Stage Rally Challenge
The new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, got off to a fine start on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday (20 January) when the Ford Anglia of Peter Stimson and Mark Butler won the opening event.

In very wet and slippery conditions on some of the classic Wales Rally GB stages, the flying Anglia set a searing pace to fend off the hard-driven Mini Cooper S of Clive King and Bob Ward. After 30 stages miles, the Anglia was over a minute clear of King, although the Mini was running with a fresh engine, which King felt to be a bit down on power.

Drawing tremendous support from the spectators was the pair of Austin Healey 3000s that have been attracted to the new series, which is open only to Category 1BeaHea (pre '68) historic rally cars. Unfortunately, though both completed the five stages, neither was classified as a finisher. A final stage puncture sidelined the car of Chris Cox/Mike Gabb and the similar car of Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert suffered after running out of fuel.

With over three months until the next round, series co-ordinator Steve Suckling reports tremendous interest in the new initiative and hopes to have at least 10 cars out for the later events on the calendar. The next event is the Welsh Rally on the asphalt roads of Epynt on 4 May.

The remaining dates are:
2 May 4, Welsh Rally, Epynt (asphalt)
3 May 26, Millbrook Stages, Bedfordshire (asphalt)
4 Jun 21, Rally of the Midlands, Nuneaton (asphalt)
5 Aug 16, Neath Valley Stages, South Wales (gravel)
6 Sep 27, Trackrod Historic Cup, Yorkshire (gravel)

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RED KITE STAGES

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• 2008 MSA British Historic Stage Rally Challenge