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LinksHarry Flatters Rally - 31 Jul 11
Posted: July 27, 2012 2:43 PM - 3707 Hits
- Report: Harry Flatters Historic Rally
- Results
- Preview: Harry Flatters Historic Rally
- Regulations / Details
Report: Harry Flatters Historic Rally
Posted: August 7, 2011 7:04 PM
David Stokes and Guy Weaver claimed victory on the SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally on Sunday (31 July), but only after a day-long fight with Connor Corkill and Mark Perryman was resolved on the final stage as Stokes took a five-second winning margin.
The annual thrash over the daunting Epynt ranges in Mid-Wales was the opening round of the Water End Asphalt Cup, a sub-set of the British Historic Rally Championship. Although not a full round of the Dunlop/WONAGO MSA BHRC, the slickly-run event drew a good historic field and universal praise from the crews after a full day of rallying on the challenging asphalt roads.
All day it was nip and tuck between Stokes (Ford Escort Mk1) and Corkill (Ford Escort Mk2) and going into the final stage Stokes was just 0.3s up on his young rival. A blistering run across the ranges sealed victory for Stokes by 5.2s.
“I’m knackered now,” said Stokes with a grin. “The old man has still got fire in his belly,” said Corkill of the driver more than 40 years his senior. Stokes had lost 12s to Corkill in the morning after a moment with a truck tyre at a chicane, and had to push hard to claw the time back.
For Corkill, it was an excellent result after a season when university exams have curtailed his rallying to date. He now plans to take this form forward to the Ulster Historic Rally, an event he won in 2010.
Third overall and second to Stokes in Category 2 were Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride, back in their later Porsche 911 for the first time in two years for their best run of the season so far.
“We were on it today,” said Nutt, who won class C4 and finished well clear of the Escort Mk1 of Chris Browne and Liz Jordan. “We’ve had a super day; a good shakedown for Ireland,” said Browne after some clutch and brake problems during the day.
Class C2 went to Jonathan Ford and Peter Thomas in their Escort Mk1. “Great stages,” said Ford after a straightforward day. Out of category two went Wayne Bonser/Richard Aston (Escort Mk1) with off on the Burma Road and Steve Loveridge/Russ Joseph (Mini Clubman) with overheating issues.
Corkill/Perryman won Category 3 by a handsome margin over the Escort Mk2 of Tomas and Eurig Davies, who battled all day with a low revs misfire as well as cooking brakes, which led to a couple of major overshoots. Rob Smith/Shaun O’Gorman (Vauxhall Chevette) and Alan Walker/Jez Rogers (Escort Mk2) were next up in the category, with both crews using the rally as a warm-up for the Ulster Rally. “We came here testing brakes and it has been very productive,” said Smith. “This morning was a bit of a shock, but it has been great for a first time here,” said Walker.
Preview: Harry Flatters Historic Rally
Posted: July 25, 2011 11:40 PM
Round one of the Water End Properties Asphalt Cup will run on the SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally on Sunday (31 July).
Although not a full round of the Dunlop/WONAGO MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the event will be contested by crews chasing the asphalt element of the BHRC. The Harry Flatters starts the asphalt part of the season, with events to follow in Ulster, Flanders and on the Isle of Man.
The mighty challenge of the Epynt ranges awaits an excellent entry of more than 20 historic crews, topped by local aces Mark Solloway and Den Golding in their Ford Escort Mk2.
Heading the championship contenders away will be David Stokes and Guy Weaver in their Ford Escort Mk1 and they also head the category two field. Stokes has a very good knowledge of Epynt and will be hard to beat in category two, where his rivals include the similar Escort of Chris Browne and Liz Jordan and the Porsche 911s of Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride and Peter Lythell/Preston Ayres.
Wayne Bonser and Richard Aston will campaign their 1600cc Escort Mk1 in category two, while returning to the sport after a couple of years away will be Steve Loveridge in his very potent Mini Clubman.
In category three, a fine entry of title contenders is headed the Vauxhall Chevette of Rob Smith/Shaun O’Gorman, while Connor Corkill/Mark Perryman are out for the first time this season in Corkill’s Escort Mk2 now that his university work is out of the way. More quick Mk2 Escorts are entered for Tomos Davies/Eurig Davies and Phil Squires/Mick Squires, while Alan Walker and Jez Rogers are using the rally as a warm-up on asphalt ahead of the Ulster Rally. Battling with the Escorts in category three will be the Porsche 911 of Adrian Kermode and Maurice Beckett.
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