Posted: August 2, 2015 11:17 AM - 4833 Hits
Round 2 - 2014 British Rally Championship
Posted: August 2, 2015 11:17 AM
Welsh duo Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss had a perfect start to their 2014 MSA British Rally Championship season after ten stages of the Pirelli Carlisle RB Foundation Rally, winning by 46 seconds and making it four BRC wins on the trot.
They continued their momentum from last season to dominate the event and lead the BRC?s new Gravel Cup and Citroen Racing Trophy, although Pirelli Star Driver Daniel McKenna kept them just in sight on his first gravel rally of his prize drive season, Arthur Kierans keeping him on the straight and narrow throughout.
Speaking before the Carlisle City centre finish Pryce said:
"Very happy, everything went to plan. We came here to win, but it's my fifth time on the Pirelli and probably the first time I've had any luck on it, so it's very long overdue. They were just great stages, probably the smoothest Pirelli Rally I've done and we quickly realised that at 90 per cent we could still beat Daniel (McKenna), so that's what we did. We haven?t taken any risks at all."
McKenna did manage to spoil Pryce's potential perfect ten though, fastest on Saturday's final stage, but even he admits it may have been as a result of the Welshman easing off a little. Nevertheless, the striking livery of the Pirelli-backed car was certainly impressive at speed and despite a final stage suspension problem, the Irishmen were happy with their performance.
Just reward for Callum Black's fine performance was cruelly denied when he and James Morgan slid off on the final test, allowing David Carney and Ray Fitzpatrick to sneak onto the all-Citroen DS3 podium.
Making it two Irish crews for the top three, Carney was pleased to move up, but admitted that he felt sorry for Black, highlighting the camaraderie in the championship. He complimented the strength of the DS3, learning the car as the event progressed and benefitting from staying out trouble.
Timothy Cathcart and Dai Roberts seemed only to have bad luck and while they did finish sixth of the BRC runners, it could have been much better. Suffering a puncture early on, they changed it quickly, but caught a car when re-joining the track. Sporting a smashed windscreen at Saturday's final service, it was clear that the car ahead had spat out a large rock which landed right in Cathcart's eyeline.
Ireland was very well represented on both BRC1 and BRC2 podiums, Dean Raftery and Aileen Kelly taking top BRC RallyTwo and leading FordFiesta SportTrophy. But it wasn't all plain sailing for the pair who also managed fourth overall on the event. A puncture, bent rear beam and stones in the rear brakes not enough to keep them from the Champagne though. Raftery's haul of points didn't stop there, top spot in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers' Trophy added to his accolades at the start of this six rally season.
Garry Pearson and Dave Robson had been the pace in the class, but an impact sheared the bolts on their power steering pump, subsequent belt failure leaving them with aflat battery and out of the rally.
New to the BRC, Calvin Beattie hails from Northern Ireland and he put in a great performance to take second BRC2, Emmet Sherry guiding the 19 year old to an untroubled first finish in the championship.
The newcomers beat BRC Challenge graduate Aaron McClure and Elliott Edmondson in a similar Fiesta, although the Cumbrian will probably want to forget the rally. A broken clutch before the start was followed by a puncture per day, hampering the Next Big Step supported driver's progress and leaving him third in the class.
BRC3 was entirely populated by newcomers to the championship and was won in some style by the BRC's second youngest driver in its 58 year history. Gus Greensmith's past karting expertise helped, but he and Carl Williamson had to gel as a team, something new for the youngster to absorb along with his first ever gravel rally. They didn't have a completely trouble free day en route to taking top British Junior Rally Championship points though, limping back to the finish with a broken driveshaft.
Co-driver turned driver Kim Baker was over the moon with her second place in the class, splitting two Fiestas and taking first blood in the Twingo Renaultsport Trophy UK. After thirteen years in the co-driver's seat, the transition to the hot seat was seamless, learning the car on Saturday and having some fun on Sunday's four damp stages.
Rounding off the top three in BRC3 were Jonathan Jones and Jez Rogers, another crew with puncture and driveshaft problems and another learning not just the car, but making pacenotes and the whole BRC experience - job done.
Posted: August 2, 2015 11:14 AM
Posted: May 1, 2014 10:24 AM
BRC 1, 2 & 3
1 Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss (Citroen DS3 R3T) [1]
2 Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans (Citroen DS3) [1]
3 Callum Black/James Morgan (Citroen DS3 R3T) [1]
4 Timothy Cathcart/Dai Roberts (Citroen DS3) [1]
5 David Carney/Ray Fitzpatrick (Citroen DS3 R3T) [1]
7 James Ford/Michael Gilbey (Citroen DS3 R3T) [1]
8 Garry Pearson/Davey Robson (Peugeot 208) [2]
9 Dean Raftery/Aileen Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [2]
10 Aaron McClure/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
11 John Byrnes/Yan Griffiths (Renault Clio) [2]
12 Rene Dias Torcato/Phil Clarke (Citroen C2 R2 Max) [2]
14 Calvin Beattie/Emmet Sherry (Ford Fiesta) [2]
15 Chris Wheeler/Charlotte Banner (Ford Fiesta MS1) [3]
16 Gus Greensmith/Carl Williamson (Ford Fiesta) [3]
18 Jonathan Jones /Jez Rogers (Ford Fiesta R1 ) [3]
19 Cameron Davies/Phil Hall (TBA TBA) [3]
20 Kim Baker/Paul Heath (Renault Twingo) [3]
BRC 4 & 5 (Challenge)
31 Richard Sykes/Emma Morrison (Citroen C2R200) [4]
32 Richard Archer/John Connor (Opel Corsa) [4]
33 Neil Matthews/Claire Williams (Vauxhall Nova) [4]
35 Ross Hunter/Josh Davison (Peugeot 205) [4]
36 Mark Gamble/Stephen Link (Suzuki Swift) [5]
37 Graeme Sherry/Peter Weall (Renault Clio) [4]
39 Sean Robson/Iain Robson (Ford Fiesta ST) [4]
40 Niall Moroney/Elgan Davies (Peugeot 106) [5]
41 Caroline Carslaw/John Duke (Ford Fiesta ST) [4]
Historic
43 Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) [6]
44 Nick Pinkett/Debby Myers (SAAB 96 2 Stroke) [6]
45 Mike Barratt/Mike George (Sunbeam Stiletto) [6]
47 Steve Bannister/Louise Sutherland (Ford Escort 11) [8]
48 Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson (Ford Escort MK2) [8]
49 Meirion Evans/Iwan Jones (Ford Escort MK2) [8]
50 David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS1600) [7]
51 Stanley Orr/Brian Cairns (Ford Escort MK1 Rs2000) [7]
52 Jimmy McRae/Pauline Gullick (Vauxhall Chevrolet Firenza) [7]
53 Paul Barrett/Dermot Colgan (Ford Escort) [8]
54 Simon tysoe/Cliffy Simmons (Ford Escort RS1600) [7]
56 Shawn Rayner/Declan Dear (Ford Escort RS2000) [8]
57 Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby (Ford Escort) [8]
58 Ian Jones/Iestyn Williams (Ford Escort Mk2) [8]
59 Richard Lane/Frank Richer (Ford Escort) [8]
60 Laurence Tysoe/Craig Dolman (Ford Escort RS2000) [8]
61 Marcus Noble/Helen Hall (Ford Escort MK2) [8]
62 Tom Hewick/Mick Johnson (Ford Escort ) [8]
63 Andy Kelly/Roger Herron (Ford Escort RS 2000) [7]
64 Wayne Bonser/Rich Aston (Ford Escort RS2000) [7]
66 Peter McDowell/Derek Davies (Porsche 911) [7]
67 Nick Danks/Martin Corbett (Ford Escort RS2000) [7]
68 Mark Holmes/Tony Lindsay (Ford Escort rs 1600) [8]
69 David Goose/Nenah Goose (Ford Escort MK2) [8]
70 Ian Watson/Mike Dickson (Ford Escort) [8]
71 Phil Jobson/Caroline Jobson (Ford Escort MK1) [7]
72 Stephen Richards/Ken Bowman (Ford Escort) [8]
73 Robert Rook/Miles Cartwright (Ford Escort Twin Cam) [7]
74 Rob Graham/Helen Gibbon (Ford Escort Mk1) [7]
75 Chris Nixon/Brynmor Pierce (Ford Escort RS) [7]
National (Saturday)
80 Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Focus WRC) [12]
81 Peter Stephenson/Ian Windress (Ford Focus) [12]
82 Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [12]
83 Mark McCulloch/Craig Wallace (Subaru Impreza) [12]
84 Steven Clark/Jim Goodman (Mitsubishi Lancer) [12]
85 Allan McDowall/Gavin Heseltine (Ford Escort RS 1800) [11]
86 Ashley Hodge/Steve Pugh (FORD Escort Mk2) [11]
87 Darren Martin/Martin Steele (Mitsubishi EVO 9) [12]
89 Alan Mayhew/Bryan Newton (Ford Escort) [11]
90 Peter Smith/Paul Morris (MG. Metro 6R4) [12]
91 David Hayton/Derek Adamson (Ford Escort) [10]
92 Blair Brown/TBC (Peugeiot 2-5 1.6 GTi) [10]
93 Gavin Chisholm/Grant Inglis (Saab 99) [11]
94 Ron Hall/Phil Spilsted (Renault Twingo) [10]
95 William Bonniwell/Neil Ewing (Subaru Impreza 555) [12]
National (Sunday)
101 Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Focus WRC) [15]
102 Peter Stephenson/Ian Windress (Ford Focus) [15]
103 Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [15]
104 Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
105 Mark McCulloch/Craig Wallace (Subaru Impreza) [15]
106 Steven Clark/Jim Goodman (Mitsubishi Lancer) [15]
107 Lee Hastings/Mark Roberts (Subaru Impreza) [15]
108 Allan McDowall/Gavin Heseltine (Ford Escort RS 1800) [14]
109 Richard Lane/Frank Richer (Ford Escort) [14]
110 Darren Martin/Martin Steele (Mitsubishi EVO 9) [15]
111 Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson (Subaru Impreza) [15]
112 Alan Mayhew/Bryan Newton (Ford Escort) [14]
114 John McIlwraith/Rory Bruton (Ford Escort RS) [14]
115 Marcus Noble/Helen Hall (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
116 Blair Brown/TBC (Peugeot 2-5 1.6 GTi) [13]
117 Gavin Chisholm/Grant Inglis (SAAB 99) [14]
118 Ron Hall/Phil Spilsted (Renault Twingo) [13]
119 William Bonniwell/Neil Ewing (Subaru Impreza 555) [15]
120 Ian Archer/Tom Hutchings (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
Land Rovers
201 Alan Paramore/Stacy Hadlum (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
202 Marc Paynter/James Sunderland (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
203 Curtis McKerlie/Clive Allford (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
204 Gari Hazelby/Mark Roberts (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
205 John Hickinbotham/Keith Sharlott (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
206 Blair Thomson/Adam Woolner (Land Rover Wolf XD) [16]
Posted: April 15, 2014 1:42 PM
The 2014 season will be a whole new ball game for the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally with the event’s base taking to the terraces with a move to Brunton Park, the home of Carlisle United Football Club. The re-location will not only see a tie-up between the organisers of two of Cumbria’s biggest sporting events, but will also bring the rally much closer to Carlisle city centre, a long-held ambition of the rally organisers, who also have much valued support from Carlisle City Council. The Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally, which runs over the weekend of 2nd - 4th May next year, has long been at the forefront of British motor sport and 2014 will mark the 22nd year as a round of the prestigious MSA British Rally Championship. The event is also a round of the Mintex British Historic Rally Championship that brings iconic cars from yesteryear to Carlisle, a aspect of the rally much enjoyed by the thousands of spectators that the event attracts every year. Brunton Park consolidates the event’s footprint within the city centre, which will allow spectators to view both the start and finish as well as servicing within walking distance of each other. Rally HQ, control centre and media centre will be located in the stadium itself. A spokesman for the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally said, “As we are part of the premier league of British rallying, a move to Brunton Park is a perfect fit and we look forward to working with the football club to provide a great spectacle in an accessible city centre venue.” On behalf of Carlisle United, club director, Dick Young, said, “ The football club are delighted to have been approached to host the 2014 Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally at Brunton Park and, in association with H & H Group, one of our principal partners, will hold the scrutineering at Rosehill. The servicing will take place in the main car parks at Brunton Park.” The Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Colin Glover, said, “ We are delighted that the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally will be coming in to Carlisle city centre for next year’s event. This is a high profile event and one which will give people the opportunity to see the cars and crews in close proximity. Carlisle has a growing reputation as a city that delivers impressive sporting events and we look forward to working with the Pirelli Rally to make it a memorable and enjoyable event”. The Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally first ran in 1975, at the time titled The Pirelli Tour of Cumbria Rally. Previous winners of the event include former World Rally Champions Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Ari Vatanen, while local hero Malcolm Wilson has notched up a record four outright victories. The rally brings to Carlisle not only a large number of competitors and crews but also thousands of enthusiastic spectators and it is estimated that the rally contributes £1.93 million to the city’s economy. As the title of the event suggests, the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally will see the organising Cumberland Sporting Car Club work closely with the Richard Burns Foundation to raise funds for the charity named after the 2001 World Rally Champion and the 1993 winner of the Carlisle-based event.