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RALLY
NEWS NO.1 Friday evening..Ashford
Formula Rally's participation in this Barrett's Motor Group Rally of
Kent/Ashford marks a step up for the event, providing new territory
also for most of the drivers. As well as the battle for Formula Rally
Super 1600 kudos amongst the 'works' drivers, the event should provide
plenty of fascinating action amongst the various 'one make' Championships
- the Peugeot Super 106 Cup, Ford Puma and Ford KA, plus the Volkswagen
Polo Challenge.
Peugeot's Justin Dale heads the FR Super 1600 points table, from Ford's
Martin Rowe. Magaud is 3rd. Current Super 1600 Champion Mats Andersson is
4th and still has to score an outright win with his Proton. That could
change this weekend, as the Swedish driver's Harry Hockly prepared Satria
has had a revised engine fitted, which should provide a bit more
pep.
Another dark horse amongst the Super 1600's could well be David Higgins
in the factory Volkswagen Polo. It is remarkable the way the cards fall
sometimes. VW's regular driver Neil Simpson was sidelined before the
Scottish when he broke his wrist, so Higgins has been drafted in. David
has had long association with Barretts and is no stranger to the Kent
Stages, having won here 3 times. The Polo is starting to come really good
after a shaky start. Having said all that, Higgins is up against some big
opposition. There is a fair percentage of new mileage in the rally this
year, so maybe his task won't be so easy.
Recent results show Justin Dale in the Peugeot as being the man on a
roll. Again that should be qualified - his Caerwent win was in wet,
slippy, 'nadgery' conditions. His 106 Super Gti just clicked, as did he.
Martin Rowe's Puma on the other hand struggled for grip. Then on the
Scottish Rowe's Puma suffered a niggly throttle problem, which caused
delays and then retirement.The weather forecast for this rally is good.
The stages should be dry, which may well favour Rowe and the Puma. We
shall see. That is what rallying is all about. Also in FR Super 1600 we
have the superbly experienced Frenchman Patrick Magaud in a 2nd works
Puma, top privateer Martin Sansom, almost on home soil, driving a replica
Peugeot 106 Super GTi to Dales', Paul Wedgbury and Max McKillen both in
Saxos, quick man Simon Maugher in his Puma. The youngster of the the
Super 1600's is Ian Barrett, in another Proton. In their own way each of
these drivers could have an impact on the results, and therefore the
points. Robert Woodside is a non starter.
In a surprise late move Ford at Boreham has entered young Belgian
superstar Francois Duval in their spare Puma. 21 year old Duval, and
Magaud, have been nominated to score Manufacturer points for Ford.
Perhaps as big a fascination as any on the rally will be the battle for
Peugeot Super 106 Cup points. Garry Jennings currently leads the race,
but the young Ballinamallard man is looking over his shoulder at the hard
charging Rory Galligan and Ryan Champion. Adrian McElvanney is another
well up the points, but may not be fully recovered from his Scottish
mishap.
There are many more young
drivers, hugely talented, such as Simon Hughes and Kris Meeke, who could
really upset the applecart. One thing is guaranteed. The Peugeot Super
106 Cup runners will provide their own brand of high speed fireworks.
More news from service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON.
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