Mewla Rally - 28 Aug 16

COLE’S RAVE-UP ON THE MEWLA!...

Posted: July 3, 2017 9:24 AM

Damian Cole & Paul Morris won the Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally, the latest round of the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, in their Ford Fiesta WRC, over the August Bank Holiday weekend, but the very fact that the event took place at all was down to some sterling last-minute work by the team from Epynt Motor Club!

For the second time in just over a decade, an illegal ‘rave’ had taken over the Drovers on the Epynt Ranges, rendering it unusable by the rally. Joint Clerk of the Course Brian Jones was not alerted to the problem until 6.00am on the Sunday morning but then, with the efficiency that we’ve come to expect from such an experienced team of organisers, they set about instigating amendments to the route and all the other aspects of ‘Plan A’ that required altering, such that the first car was able to leave the start at the Showground in Builth Wells just 30 minutes later than originally intended.

Fortunately, the stages were not affected and Cole/Morris were immediately into their stride, setting FTD by four seconds from a returning Rob Tout/Dylan James (Lancer EVO9). David Tinn/Giles Dykes (Proton Satria Neo) were next, just a second up on the leaders’ main rivals for the Championship title, Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Impreza WRC). Cole was fastest on SS2 by one second from Bob Fowden/Paul Wakely (Impreza WRC) while on SS3, the last of the first loop, it was Fowden himself who set FTD. Through the second loop Fowden was Cole’s closest rival but then on SS7, the longest of the day at more than 13 miles, Simpson pulled out all the stops to take five seconds back from Cole and fully 17s from Fowden, in the process elevating himself and Walsh to 2nd overall. The Top Three would then remain static for the final four stages to give Cole his third maximum points score of the season. At the same time, Simpson is keeping up the pressure on the leader and, having missed the Manx National Rally, still has a score in hand.

Richard Clews produced another workmanlike performance in his Impreza to finish 7th and take a class win. With two events to go, he is 3rd in the overall points table and leads Class B13 such that, whatever happens on the Patriot Stages, he would still lead the race for the Kwiktrak awards! However, Richard & Ben Slinger and Stu Bainborough finished less than a minute apart in their respective Lancers and both are handily placed to benefit from any problems that may trouble Clews between now and the end of the season!

We haven’t seen Phil Turner since the Tour of Epynt in March - and that outing ended in tears! Notwithstanding, he and Andy Moss brought their Escort MkII home to a Top Ten finish, taking maximum points in the Millington Rear-Wheel Drive Challenge to boot! However, Geoff Glover/Keith Barker’s fourth finish from four starts keeps their Astra RWD in the pound seats here!

Wynne Watkins/Ashley Trimble won the Group N battle in their Impreza from Oliver Hopkins/Ian Taylor (Lancer EVO9) who, by all accounts, were lucky to survive a ‘moment’ during the afternoon. This result keeps the two drivers just a point apart and we look forward to this one ‘going the distance’!

William Hill/Richard Crozier (Fiesta R200) had another successful outing to take a class win on Epynt, not to mention maximum AB Motorsport Front-Wheel Drive Challenge points but, nevertheless, Tim Seipel/Val Thompson (MG ZR) were keeping them honest - the final margin being less than 15s. Paul Clackett/David Millard weren’t far behind - an untraceable (at the time!) oil leak was causing smoke to permeate their Suzuki Swift S1600’s cockpit and give them some worrying moments, not to mention warm feet!....

Meanwhile, Ian & Mags Kelly had an untroubled run to a 1400cc class win in their Nissan Micra but, even so, there’s still plenty of mileage in this category before it’s finally sorted!

The ‘mixed-surface’ BTRDA Rally Challenge turned to the Mewla for its final outing on asphalt and it was Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh who were the major beneficiaries, their runners-up spot on the event giving them maximum points in their respective categories. Leading driver Stephen Petch, with defending Rally Challenge Champion Co-driver Jack Morton alongside for company in his Fiesta R5+ on this occasion, finished 5th overall on Epynt - more than enough for Petch to maintain his position at the top, while Morton leapfrogged erstwhile leader Richard Crozier to put himself in an unassailable position, confirming his back-to-back Co-driver titles - congratulations!

The Rally Challenge now moves to the North York Moors at the end of September for the Trackrod Forest Stages where Petch could be caught by both current runner-up Julian Barnett (GpN Impreza) and thirdplaced Steve Simpson. However, you can take it as read that he’ll be doing everything in his power to prevent that happening!...

Results

Posted: July 3, 2017 9:21 AM

Mewla Rally - 28 Aug 16 - RESULTS

Results on Line (Mewla 2016) | Results by: North East Rally Services

Seeded Entry List

Posted: August 26, 2016 8:50 AM

1 Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [A8]
2 Damian Cole/Paul Morris (Ford Fiesta WRC) [B14]
3 Andy Fraser/Michael Calvert (Darrian T9 V6) [TBA]
4 Bob Fowden/Paul Wakely (Subaru Impreza WRC S11) [B14]
5 David Tinn/Giles Dykes (MEM Proton Satria Nero) [B14]
6 Stephen Petch/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta R5+) [B14]
7 Peter Lloyd/Den Golding (Subaru Impreza S12) [B14]
8 Richard Clews/Carl Williamson (Sdubaru impreza Sti) [B13]
10 Gareth Richards/Ian Jones (Darrain T90) [B12]
11 Robert Tout/Dylan James (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [B13]
12 Ian Godney/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
14 Huw Reed/Anthony Hackett (Darrian T90 GTR) [B12]
15 Ian Caddy/Alan Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
16 Paul Kirtley/David Jones (Subaru Impreza WRC) [B14]
17 Neil Williams/Peter James (Ford Escort RS1800) [H3]
18 Wynne Watkins/Ashley Trimble (Subaru Impreza N12B) [N4]
20 Tony Rees/Geraint Thomas (Talbot Sunbeam) [B11b]
21 Jay Stanley/Elgan Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) [TBA]
22 Rob Jones/Gary Kinghorne (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
23 Richard Slinger/Ben Slinger (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [B13]
24 Stu Bainborough/Charlotte Shimmin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [B13]
25 Mike Brown/Aled Davies (BMW Compact M3) [B12]
26 Mark Worley/Michael Stewart (Subaru Impreza N12b) [N4]
27 Chris Lloyd/Rhys Jones (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
28 Gareth Bettinson/Edwin Venville (Ford Escort) [B12]
30 Kevin Jones/Lee Jones (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [TBA]
31 Oliver Hopkins/Ian Taylor (Mitsubishi Evo 9) [N4]
33 David Davies/Rich Jones (BMW Compact M3) [B12]
34 Mark Kelly/Andy Baker (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11b]
35 Graham Muter/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Escort RS1600) [H3]
36 Carl Gower/Paul Williams (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11b]
37 William Hill/Rochard Crozier (Ford Fiesta) [B10]
38 Tim Seipel/Val Thompson (MG ZR) [B10]
40 Julian Barnett/Sasha Heriot (Subaru Impreza) [N4]
41 Paul Doroszczuk/Julian Doroszczuk (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11b]
42 Wyn Owens/Jenny Evans (Ford Escort Mk2) [R15]
43 Wayne Bonser/Rich Aston (Ford Escort RS2000) [H2]
44 Myf Owen/Baz Green (Mitsubishi Evo 9) [N4]
45 Lee Perry/Stuart Powell (Ford Escort Cosworth) [B13]
46 Geoff Glover/Keith Barker (Vauxhall Astra Mk3) [B11b]
47 Tom Jones/Greg Evans (Honda Civic) [B10]
48 Nigel Killerby/Colin Watson (Ford Escort) [B12]
50 Andy Madeley/Chris Whittall (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) [B11b]
51 John Williams/Adam Wilks (Ford Escort) [B12]
52 Paul Clackett/David Millard (Suzuki Swift S1600) [B10]
53 Stuart Fossey/Theresa Fossey (Ford Escort) [B12]
54 James Nicholls/David Allman (Peugeot 205 Mi16) [B11b]
55 Stuart Mead/Tom Bishop (Ford Escort) [B11a]
56 James Russell/Mark Russell (Ford Escort) [B12]
57 Paul Baile/Loic Ditchburn (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
58 Kevin Harbour/Ryan Jones (Peugeot 205Gti) [B10]
60 Tom Middlemiss/Richard Stewart (Vauxhall Corsa) [B10]
61 Richard Egger/Pat Egger (Vauxhall Nova) [B11b]
62 Ben Gill/David Didcott (Ford Escort RS1800) [H2]
63 Malcolm Tar Jones/Ryan Thomas (Citroen Xsara) [R15]
64 William Mains/TBA (Vauxhall Nova) [B9]
65 Jason Hodge/Alan Hinton (Toyota Coroll) [R15]
66 Steve Ellis/Chris Crocker (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11b]
67 Ian Kelly/Margaret Kelly (Nissan Micra) [B9]
68 Craig Aston/James Bowles (Toyota Yaris) [B9]
70 Lee Sparrowhawk/Samuel Myers (Subaru Impreza) [R15]
71 Darren Pool/Christopher Beer (Vauxhall Corsa Sport) [B10]
72 Niel Dodd/Laura Wilks (MG ZR) [N1]
73 Nicholas Deighton/Thomas Ward (VW Golf Mk2) [B11b]
74 Brad Cole/Nev Cole (Vauxhall Corsa Gsi) [B10]
75 Rod Haven/Kevin Haven (Ford Escort RS2000) [H2]
76 Brian Maguire/Chris Gray (Peugeot 205 Gti) [B11b]
77 Ed Fossey/Tom Hutchings (Toyota Yaris) [B9]
78 Jim Boxhall/Allan Brown (Peugeot 205 Gti) [B10]
80 Jason Watkins/Elspeth Watkins (Peugeot Rallye) [B9]
81 Paul Darlington/Peter Lumsden (Saab 96 V4) [H1]
82 Chris Kemp/Mike Hart (Peugeot 206 cup) [B10]
83 Octavia Hopwood/Liam Carey (VW Golf Gti Mk2) [B11b]
84 Chris Northover/Kirsty Hodges (Ford Escort Mk2) [H1]
85 Alistair Oxley/TBC (Autobianchi A112 Abarth H1) [TBA]
86 Martin Beech/Jessica Beech (Mazda RXT) [B12]
87 James Chappell/Lisa Chappell (Morris Mini) [H1]

Regulations / Details / Club Website

Posted: July 5, 2016 5:43 AM

Epynt MC (Mewla Rally)