Posted: September 30, 2008 6:47 AM - 6720 Hits
Replacement for Round 2 - 2008 BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series.
Posted: September 17, 2008 3:41 PM
The penultimate round of the Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series takes competitors from all over the country to the Caerwent Training Area, near Newport, on Sunday 28th September for the EDP Photo News/Bob Dowen Rally Services Patriot Stages. Organised jointly by Forresters Car Club & South Wales Automobile Club, the Patriot has attracted a full entry and, with just two events left to run, BTRDA Series contenders have some serious business to attend to.
Following their maximum score on the Mewla at the end of August, CHRIS JONES/RICHARD WILLIAMS lead the BTRDA Series points table in their Ford Focus STI from the Toyota Celica GT4 of GARY LE COADOU/PAUL HOLLINGHAM. These two crews have maintained a 100% finishing record, having scored on all four rounds to date, whereas the current occupant of 4th place, MARK WELCH, has only contested three events. His Ford Escort Cosworth has notched up two maximums and a second and, with dropped scores now coming into play, the Fleet driver is ideally situated to improve on his overall placing, provided – obviously! – that his run of good results continues at Caerwent.
Brecon teenager SARA WILLIAMS (Honda Civic Type ‘R’) has also crossed the finish line on all four occasions so far and comfortably leads her class. The only crew who could possibly deprive her of end-of-season glory is PAUL BOXALL/TERESA BUTLER (Peugeot 205) who must take maximum class points on each of the final two events to stand any chance of causing an upset.
In Class S (four-wheel drive), NIGEL KILLERBY/COLIN WATSON (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO5) and PETE DONNACHIE/PHIL ROWLEY (Subaru Impreza) suffered the proverbial ‘early bath’ last time out on the Mewla and now need to finish the Patriot to keep their respective seasons on track.
The up to 1600cc class (C2) is being fought out between TIM SEIPEL/MARTIN HAGGETT (MG ZR) and PAUL KENDRICK/ANTON BIRD (Talbot Sunbeam). Both crews were absent from the opening round and, since then, they have one retirement apiece. After maintaining a clean sheet for over eighteen months of competition, Kendrick’s Sunbeam disgraced itself on the Mewla when it retired with a broken throttle cable. It now has the chance to redeem itself at Caerwent by returning to its former level of reliability, and its crew will be trusting to luck that this is, indeed, the case!...
Rather belatedly making its first appearance in the BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series, the Lotus Europa of STUART DEELEY suffered some engine problems prior to the first round, preventing it from taking the start. Prolonged repairs have now been completed and, whilst Deeley is not in contention for any Series awards, his pace could well see him in amongst the leaders on the day.
The whole event takes place entirely within the confines of the Caerwent Training Are and eight demanding stages, totalling 74 miles, are contained in the route. The first car starts at 8.45am on the Sunday morning and the event is due
to finish at 5.30pm that afternoon.
N.B. : Caerwent Training Area is a non-spectator venue.
Posted: May 9, 2008 3:38 PM
Following the unfortunate cancellation of the Tour of Cornwall, the second round of the Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series, the organisers have been looking at possible replacements with a view to maintaining the total number of qualifying rounds at six.
To that end, we are delighted to announce that the Patriot Stages Rally at Caerwent (Monmouthshire, South Wales) on Sunday 28th September will now form part of the 2008 BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series calendar.
The organisers of the Patriot Stages have been very pro-active and helpful in their dealings with the BTRDA Series and we are looking forward to being part of this very popular event.
Meanwhile, after a lengthy break, the Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series resumes on Spring Bank Holiday Monday (26th May) with the Tamdown Millbrook Stages Rally, for which West Essex Car Club has received a capacity entry.