|
Press
release – 27 April 2015
Elliott slithers to BHRC victory in Kielder
Elliott and Dave Price made it two wins from three rounds of the
Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship on the Pirelli
Carlisle Rally (Saturday 25 April).
As truly testing conditions hit the demanding Kielder stages,
Elliott drove a superbly judged rally as heavy overnight on
previously dry and dusty stages left everyone searching for
grip. Just eight seconds split Elliott/Price from rivals Matthew
Robinson and Sam Collis at the finish as other leading crews
faltered. Former championship leaders Jason Pritchard and Phil
Clarke were sidelined by clutch failure and Kielder ditches
claimed Meirion Evans/Steffan Evans and Richard Hill/Iwan Jones.
Paul Barrett and Dai Roberts turned in another starring
performance to take third overall in their Pinto-powered Escort
Mk2 while David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk1) and Paul
Mankin/Desmond Bell (Lotus Cortina) also won their respective
categories.
After three very dry weeks, it was very wet and slippery in
Kielder after heavy overnight rain. Undaunted by the conditions,
Elliott (Ford Escort Mk2) set the pace on the opening stage.
Thereafter, Robinson mounted constant pressure, but Elliott held
his nerve to win by just eight seconds and take top points in
the RSR Historic Engineering Category 3.
“We drove as fast as the grip and kept it smooth and in the
middle of the road,” said Elliott, who went fastest in stage
one, Black Craggs, with Meirion Evans/Steffan Evans second, just
2.5s adrift. Evans kept in touch on White Sike but slid out of
the rally on the third stage, Buck Fell. “There’s no room for
error up here and we slipped into a ditch,” said Evans.
Robinson moved into second and beat Elliott by three seconds on
Buck Fell to reach service less than 10 seconds behind the
leader. It was then very tight all afternoon, with Robinson just
one second faster over the second loop of stages. “We’ll have
him one day,” said Robinson. “Two or three years ago, catching
Nick was only a dream.”
Once again, Paul Barrett and Dai Roberts turned in one of the
drives of the rally to take third overall in their Pinto-powered
Escort Mk2. The fact that he’d not rallied in Kielder before
made no difference to the sensational pace of the Northern
Irishman.
Fourth in the BHRC ranks was a great result for Rudi Lancaster
and George Gwynn, who get quicker and quicker each time out.
Some work on brake bias on the Somerset Stages a week earlier
reaped dividends and even a cracked oil cooler after catching a
car on the first stage didn’t hinder their excellent progress.
Into an excellent fifth went Tim Freeman and Paul Williams,
despite suffering a cracked windscreen when they caught the
recovering Rupert Lomax, while Steve Bennett and Paul Wakely
took sixth on only Steve’s second rally in his historic Escort
Mk2. Back on gravel for the first time since last November’s
Roger Albert Clark Rally, Seamus O’Connell was next up with Andy
Richardson on the notes.
Barrett/Roberts won class D3 at a canter, with Ben Friend/Cliffy
Simmons next up after a strong run. Meanwhile Chris Skill and
Ken Bills (Ford Escort Mk2) won class D2. With Pritchard out,
Tomas Davies and Eurig Davies won the Holton Homes Category K
for cars running to Appendix K specification.
Capital Construction Category 2 victory for Stokes/Weaver was
one of the closest yet, as clutch problems dogged their progress
on the first loop as Rupert Lomax/Rich Jones and John Perrott/Keaton
Williams were really on it. Lomax could have won but lost two
minutes with an off and puncture on stage three and dropped to
third. Meanwhile, the charging Perrott was 11s up on Stokes at
service but a noisy diff bearing forced him to back off in the
afternoon and slip to fifth. Meanwhile, Warren Philliskirk and
Nigel Hutchinson finally took second in the category, just 24s
behind Stokes. Out of the rally, at the crest that once claimed
Nick Elliott, went Ernie and Will Graham with a high-speed trip
into a ditch.
James Slaughter belied a two-year break from gravel rallying to
take class C3 in his Escort Mk1 with Keegan Rees co-driving. The
battle for second in C3 between Phil Jobson/Arwel Jenkins
(Escort Mk1) and Terry Cree/Richard Shores (BMW 2002) was only
resolved when the BMW hit rear suspension dramas in the final
stage.
Barry Jordan and James Gratton-Smith (Hillman Avenger) sorted
themselves out at service and duly upped their pace to win class
C2 after a stunning run through the afternoon stages. They
turned a 44s deficit on Robin Shuttleworth/Ron Roughead into a
16s winning margin in just three stages.
The weather conditions led to rougher than expected stages and
the older cars in the Walker Diecastings Category 1 suffered
badly as they ran towards the tail of the field for the first
time. Rikki Proffitt and James Whitaker withdrew their Porsche
911 after one stage rather than damage it and few of the
survivors enjoyed the experience.
Paul Mankin and Desmond Bell (Lotus Cortina) were the top
finishers. “We just followed the ruts on the second run,” said
Mankin. Bob and Dale Gibbons (Ford Cortina Mk2 GT) won their
class, but the car took a pasting. “I’ll never do that again,”
said Gibbons senior. Behind Malcolm Rich/Jonathan Hawkins (Ford
Anglia), Philip Harris and Alan Walker (Mini Cooper) somehow got
round to win class B2.
The Pirelli Carlisle Stages was organised by the Cumberland
Sporting Car Club. Full results are available at:
http://results.djames.org.uk/results/?m=79
Issued by Paul Lawrence, tel: 01952 510382 (e:
paul@tfmpr.com)
 
Elliott tops BHRC on Mid Wales Stages
Nick Elliott and Dave Price were the big winners on round two of
the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Viking
Motorsport/Links Electrical Mid Wales Stages (Sunday 1 March).
Despite some truly demanding conditions on some classic gravel
stages, the Ford Escort Mk2 crew made it five wins from six in
the historic section of the event.
On a day when strong winds, heavy rain, sleet and snow made
conditions very tough, Elliott drove a faultless rally to finish
28s ahead of Matthew Robinson/Sam Collis and impressive
championship newcomers Joe Price and Chris Brooks.
Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke (Ford Escort Mk2) took fourth
overall and Category K to retain their early championship lead,
while David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk1) and Rikki
Proffitt/James Whitaker (Porsche 911) also won their respective
categories.
This was the second event of the BHRC’s new five-year term under
the management of the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club. Once
again a fine entry assembled in Newtown with a total field of 82
cars covering 14 marques and 19 models. The outstanding effort
and commitment of the organisers and marshals ensured a safe
day’s rallying despite the dreadful conditions.
Four superb stages made up the route, including a mighty 16-mile
stage that started in Sweet Lamb and then ran in to Hafren
forest. The rally opened with the fabulous climb up the Pikes
Peak stage followed by the second stage in Myherin and after
those two stages Elliott had built a slender lead over Price
with Pritchard and Matthew Robinson/Sam Collis packing out the
top positions.
A big attack on the 16-mile Hafren stage set the seal on
Elliott’s victory as rain, wind, sleet, snow, thunder and
lightning made conditions very tough. However, Meirion Evans and
Steffan Evans ran Elliott close and were only two seconds behind
after more than 17 minutes of rallying to move into second place
with one stage remaining.
The rally finished in spectacular style on the descent of Pikes
Peak and Elliott made sure of victory with a strong final stage.
However, Evans hit trouble when he picked up a puncture with six
miles of the stage still to run. He battled on, but the time
lost cost him second place and dropped him to fifth.
“Brilliant!” said Elliott as he arrived back in Newtown. “We
just seem to go well on these stages.” He also claimed the RSR
Historic Engineering Category 3 spoils.
Robinson took second place, but only just. Price started the
last stage four seconds behind and the gap was down to
four-tenths of a second by the finish. “We’re pleased to be up
there on pace,” said Price of his impressive BHRC debut. Only
four seconds adrift of Price in fourth was Pritchard who won the
Holton Homes Category K for cars running to Appendix K
specification from Evans, who finished the rally understandably
disappointed with fifth.
Youngsters Ben Llewellin and Ross Whittock went well in the
tough conditions to take sixth, despite dropping a chunk of time
in Hafren with a misted screen. Equally impressive in seventh
overall and dominant winner of class D3 was the Pinto-powered
Escort Mk2 of Paul Barrett and Dai Roberts. After a nightmare
ferry trip trying to get to the Red Kite, this was just reward
for Northern Irish driver.
Behind Barrett in class D3 were Ben Friend and Sean Kennedy, one
of several crews to be held up when another car slid off in
Hafren. Close behind were Ian Jones and Iestyn Williams in their
Pinto-powered Escort Mk2.
Stokes/Weaver made it two out of two this season in the Capital
Construction Category 2 despite having to change a gearbox at
the first service. Stokes had half a minute in hand over a
mighty Escort Mk1 contest for second in class C5 and it was
Rupert Lomax and Rich Jones who took the position from John
Perrott/Keaton Williams and Ernie Graham/Will Graham.
Robin Shuttleworth and Ronnie Roughead (Ford Escort Mk1) turned
in a storming performance to win class C2 and beat a gaggle of
more powerful cars in the process. They headed Baz Jordan/James
Gratton-Smith (Hillman Avenger), while Terry Cree/Richard Shores
(BMW 2002Ti) made a winning return in class C3 after a day-long
battle with Phil Jobson/Arwel Jenkins (Ford Escort Mk1). Cree
really won it on the Hafren stage on his return to competition
after rolling the BMW on the Neath Valley Stages last August.
In the Walker Diecastings Category 1, Proffitt/Whitaker had to
contend with a misfire after the Sweet Lamb water splash and
then slush on the high ground in stage four as they ran first on
the road. But it was still an accomplished performance that gave
Proffitt his second Category 1 win of the season.
However, it was never easy for Proffitt as Bob and Dale Gibbons
(Ford Cortina Mk2 GT) flew through Hafren to take a seven-second
lead into the final stage. Trying just too hard to hold his
advantage, Gibbons slid off the road and lost five minutes
before spectators got them going again. Meanwhile, as well as
winning class B4, Ian Beveridge/Paul Price (Volvo PV544) gave
spirited chase to the winning Porsche and were only 18s down at
the finish.
The Gibbons father and son pairing still won class B3 as Philip
Harris/Alan Walker (Mini Cooper) took B2 despite spending
several minutes off in Hafren. Luckily, four burly chaps were
there to manhandle the Mini back on to the road.
Finally, Trevor Hancock/Jody Watson (MG Metro) scored a personal
victory for the driver by winning the Jondel Engines Category 4
on Hancock’s return to competition after a stroke.
The 2015 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship
continues with round three, the Pirelli Rally on Saturday 25
April.
The Mid Wales Stages was organised by the Newtown and District
Automobile Club. Full results are at:
www.amcrallyresults.co.uk
Issued by Paul Lawrence, tel: 01952 510382 (e:
paul@tfmpr.com)
Pritchard takes opening BHRC victory on Red Kite Stages
The
2015 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship got off to
an incredible start on the Red Kite Stages (Sunday 1 February)
as early ice and snow delivered truly challenging conditions.
Then, as conditions improved, Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke
flew through the final stage to jump from fourth to first as
just 15 seconds covered the top five crews.
It was a sensational start to the new season and the fact that
the rally run at all is testament to the hard work and
professionalism of the organising team at Amman and DMC as well
as all the marshals and officials out on the stages.
The uphill access road to the Crychan South stage was impassable
first thing for the marshals and safety crews, so only Crychan
North ran on the first loop. Two stages in Caeo stage were
interspersed by another lap of Crychan, this time with a
shortened version of Crychan South as conditions improved
notably in the middle of the day.
Despite the conditions, a big crowd of fans turned out to see
the action and they were not disappointed as the BHRC started a
new five-year term under the management of the Roger Albert
Clark Rally Motor Club.
Team mates Daniel ‘Lwni’ Jones/Kevin Lewis and Meirion Evans/Steffan
Evans set a searing the early pace but neither Escort Mk2 was
destined to finish. Jones’ massively impressive BHRC debut was
halted by gearbox problems and Evans slid off in Crychan when
looking good for a very big result. Instead, David Stokes/Guy
Weaver (Ford Escort Mk1) took the lead as Stokes used decades of
experience to make the best of the conditions.
Meanwhile, Pritchard was clawing back time after a steady run
through the ince-bound opening stage and went into the final
Caeo stage in fourth place overall behind Stokes, Richard Hill/Iwan
Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) and Terry Brown/Den Golding (Ford Escort
Mk2). In just nine miles, the results were turned on their head
as Pritchard won from Hill, Brown and Stokes, while Matthew
Robinson/Sam Collis grabbed fifth as they also charged back into
contention following a troubled opening stage.
It had been one of the most dramatic final stages in the BHRC
story and Pritchard had produced the perfect start to the new
season. “The conditions this morning were the worst I’ve ever
driven in,” he said. Hill was pleased with a strong result to
start the season, and was quick to congratulate Pritchard on the
result.
Brown’s performance was one of the drives of the rally, for he
had lost third gear on the opening stage. Co-driver Golding
reckoned that the struggle between second and fourth on the long
climb in Caeo could have cost them victory. Stokes, meanwhile
had driven just as well and shown that experience counts when
the conditions are tough.
In the Walker Diecastings Category 1, Rikki Proffitt/Graham Wild
slithered through the morning ice in Crychan to lay the
foundations of victory in their Porsche 911. “Absolutely
fantastic,” said Proffitt. “We couldn’t have gone much quicker
this morning without going off.” After a long break from
rallying Malcolm Rich, with co-driver Jonathan Hawkins, had a
mighty run in his Ford Anglia to win class B3 and headed the
chase of Proffitt.
Paul Mankin and Desmond Bell survived to win class B4 in their
Lotus Cortina despite a time-consuming first stage off while
Philip Harris and Alan Walker were delighted to get Phil’s
immaculate Mini Cooper to the finish of its first rally and
claim class B2 spoils.
Stokes/Weaver won the Capital Construction Category 2 with
Rupert Lomax and new co-driver Rich Jones second after two years
away from his Escort Mk1 for the driver and no testing before
starting the ice-bound Crychan stage.
Just outside the top 10, in what is shaping up for the best
class C5 battle for many years, John Perrott/Keaton Williams,
Ernie and Will Graham and Warren Philliskirk/Nigel Hutchinson
were split by just two seconds, with Perrott taking the place on
the final stage.
In class C3, Phil Jobson/Arwel Jenkins (Ford Escort Mk1) spent
the day struggling to find gears but still managed to win the
class, while Class C2 featured a fine contest as Dave
Watkins/Thomas Jordan (Ford Escort Mk1) clawed back the 40s they
lost to Robin Shuttleworth/Ronnie Roughead on the first stage.
Hill/Jones claimed the RSR Historic Engineering Category 3 from
Brown/Golding and Robinson/Collis, while next up were Rudi
Lancaster and George Gwynn, who finished only three seconds up
on Nick Elliott/Dave Price. The wrong tyres and a first stage
spin and puncture cost Elliott dear, but he was on the pace
again once conditions improved.
One of the drives of the rally came from Pinto-powered Ben
Friend and Sean Kennedy in their Ford Escort Mk2 as they won
class D3 at a canter with an outstanding sixth fastest overall
on the opening stage. “The ice was a good power leveller,” said
the rapid youngster.
First on the road in the ice was a big handicap for Chris Skill
and Garry Middleton (Ford Escort Mk2), but they kept it going to
win class D2. “It was a lot of fun, but very tricky,” said
Skill.
Pritchard won the Holton Homes Category K for cars running to
Appendix K specification and was followed home by the
crowd-pleasing cars of Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Fiat 131)
and Steve Perez/Paul Spooner (Lancia Stratos).
The 2015 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship
continues with round two, the Mid Wales Stages on Sunday 1
March.
The Red Kite Stages was organised by the Amman and District
Motor Club. Full results are at:
www.amcrallyresults.co.uk
Issued by Paul Lawrence, tel: 01952 510382 (e:
paul@tfmpr.com)
|
