UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 P-ZERO (last stage)

1^st (12) Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Lancer N) 1.45.37.8

2^nd (1) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 1.45.50.9

3^rd (7) Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 1.45.58.4

4^th (2) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Lancer N) 1.46.56.6

5^th (6) Jonny Milner/Nick Beech (Lancer N) 1.47.16.6

6^th (15) Phillip Morrow/Daniel Barritt (Lancer N) 1.47.30.1

7^th (4) Alister McRae/Gordon Noble (Impreza N) 1.48.38.1

8^th (11) Julian Reynolds/Stewart Merry (Impreza N) 1.48.55.6

9^th (14) Stuart Jones/Craig Parry (Lancer N) 1.49.08.1

10^th (16) Conrad Rautenbach/Dave Senior (Impreza N) 1.49.15.9

The final few stages of this Pirelli Rally have produced a great battle and a great battle for 30 year old Yorkshire man Ryan Champion and his co driver Craig Thorley. Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy led the rally for most of the way in their Impreza, but 2 punctures in Kershope knocked them back.

Ryan Champion commented here at final service. “I’m thrilled to bits, it was a clean fight at the end and I’m really pleased that I was able to take time off Mark when he was pushing. To win, on speed, at the end really makes it.  It’s a dream come true, something I’ve thought about for a long time, to win an International Rally, first round of the British Championship, its very special”.  Ryan added one more comment and that was that he had driven the last 3 stages with no sump guard on his Lancer, it got wiped out on a compression jump/dip, so as well as having to drive flat out he was having to drive carefully!  Mark Higgins commented. “I’d like to thank all the boys here on the team for their help, disappointed to finish 2^nd yes, but that’s the way it goes.  Fair play to Ryan, he drove well. I had nothing left over the last few stages and we had a couple of big moments as well. I think the nature of those roads over the last few forest stages suited the Lancers, it was very fast stuff. I think its going to be a real struggle for the rest of the series”.  Gwyndaf Evans said. “I’m happy with the result for the team, it was all new and changing the clutch this morning was a tall order with no rehearsals.  That’s where we got the road penalties then there was no point in pushing too hard. The times have been strong and I’m not under estimating the task ahead in the championship, there are 10 drivers can win”. 

Major incidents over the last few stages were that Stuart Jones lost 4^th place and slipped back to 9^th when he put his Lancer on its roof in stage 14.  Guy Wilks retired his Ignis within sight of the finish due to engine problems and Barry Clark takes the Super 1600 category.  Barry finished in 14^th despite power steering troubles with his Fiesta Super.  Stuart Jones said about the accident. “It was the end of a fast section and then a long fast left corner slowing, there were some marbles and I got round the tight bit of the corner but the back end was in the ditch, caught something and fell over. The car actually landed back on its roof.  We lost virtually no time but the engine then wouldn’t re start and we really lost time, nearly 2 minutes, getting it going. The next stage wasn’t great either as we couldn’t see out of the screen”.  Phil Pugh co drives for Guy Wilks and he said about their engine failure. “The temperature went off the clock just before the end of Chirdonhead. The ECU closed the engine down a bit but we kept going, but the temperature was shooting up and down and it finally stopped when we turned off the A69 to go into the P-Zero. The head gasket was completely shot”. 

Finally for now well done to all the organisers of the rally and our thanks to all who supported the RallyNews service. Thanks also to Simon Morrow and his team for helping distribute the RallyNews and to Andrew Kellitt for his help.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net