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Oregon Trail Rally 2013

e-mail from Craig Drew

Friday night started with 4 spectator stages around Portland International Raceway, on a mixture of tarmac and gravel.

We won 3 of 4 stages to lead by 38 seconds, after both Ken Block (Fiesta WRC) and L'Estage (Mitsubishi WRC) both hit problems.

The rally proper started on Saturday morning, with 74 stage miles throughout the day.
Block was quickest on the first 2 stages, with us close behind followed by L'Estage. On the next stage, the long 17 miler, we set fastest time to extend our lead to over a minute.

On the next loop, L'Estage had a big crash which destroyed his Mitsubishi, and we further extended our lead over Block, who had a puncture.

On the penultimate stage, both us and Block hit some nasty exposed bedrock in the middle of the road which significantly damaged both our cars, causing virtually identical damage.  We broke the fans, the power steering, the radiator mounts and the rear-diff casing, but both managed to limp to the end of the day. Our lead going into day 3 was 2 mins 48 secs.

Our plan for Day 3 was to cruise and not take any risks, which we did comfortably to win by almost 2 minutes.

The victory puts us in a great position at the top of the Championship after 3 of 7 rounds.

Our car was fitted with a new latest-spec WRC engine and a new gearbox (Same as DS3 WRC) and has never felt better.

The next rally is STPR in 3 weeks.

Top 3:

Higgins (Impreza) 
Block (Fiesta WRC)
Sungkar (Evo 10)

Swansea Bay National Rally 2013

On rare weekend when Britain bathed in glorious sunshine local competitors went far and wide in search of honours.

But it was Jason Morgan who took the top accolade with a superb 2nd overall on the Swansea Bay National Rally.

Together with the experienced Adrian Williams on the notes,these two were a model of consistency over the 5 tests in the Walters Arena complex near Glyn Neath, what made this result all the sweeter was it was Morgans first event in his new Winner Garage backed Lancer Evo 6 which was once campaigned by his father Bob.

"Really pleased with the result, car has a lot more power than I am used too with the old Subaru, I made a few mistakes but it will get better with mileage, thanks to Ade he was spot on as usual".said a delighted Morgan

Joining them in the top 5 were Mark Griffiths and Tom Marrott in the Griffiths Engineering Escort RS, using the event to see if the problems on the recent Somerset Stages had been sorted, they found the opening two tests very slippery, they had the electrical problem raise its ugly head again on stage 3, but this was traced and finally sorted, so they cruised through the final two tests to finish 4th overall 1st in class.

Pirelli National Rally 2013

Ross on Wye duo Scott Partridge and Mike Jode ventured North. For the gruesome Keilder Forest,in their ex-Alistair McRae Subaru Impreza for the Pirelli National Rally their were two separate events on both Saturday and Sunday which were very poorly supported.

Saturday,s rally consisted of just 3 stages and 22 miles, but for the experienced Jode it was his first time back in Keilder Forest for 27 years, but a trouble free run as Partridge on his first event since the Wyedean built his speed over the narrow Northumberland roads, to net 5th overall,2nd in class

Day two saw a further 6 stages and 44 miles again a trouble free run netted another 5th place and 2nd in class.

Graham Waite and Gill Cotton also came away with a good result from the Pirelli Historic rally in the Volvo Amazon, the event was the latest round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Championship and offered 50 miles in just 5 tests.

Waite got off to a bad start loosing time to his Porsche mounted rivals, when he spun at a chicane to lie 4th in category one after the opening test, but after opening indiscretion Waite was on a charge, and on the final test passed the Porsche of Dessie Nutt, to not only finish 2nd overall 1st in class in Category one but also 8th overall in the whole historic event

Wells Masonary Corinium Stages 2013

Nigel Jenkins co-driven by Karen Watts returned to Down Ampney for the Wells Masonary Corinium Stages organised by Cirencester Car Club.

8 stages were laid out for the quality entry of 65 cars

Jenkins/Watts started well and were embroiled in a ding dong battle for 2nd in class upto stage 5, but diaster struck on the next text when the NJ Autos 16v Nova suffered a puncture just off the start and had to drive 7 miles on a flat costing over 2 minutes and any hope of a class award gone, but they completed the final two stages problem free to net 20th overall and 4th in class.

STOP PRESS.

David Higgins and Craig Drew clinched a comfortable victory on the Oregan Trail Rally in the Team Subaru USA Impreza against very strong opposition in the shape of Monster Energy supremo Ken Block in his 600bhp Fiesta WRC, Antione L'Estage now armed wth a new Lancer WRC and APRC championship front runner Rufal Sunkat in a Lancer Evo 9

Full Story next week

Somerset Stages 2013

Rob Smith with Ross Weir on the notes took top local honours on the Butlins Somerset Stages with an excellent 6th overall, 2nd in class in the Weir Laundry Equipment Subaru Impreza

The BTRDA championship circus moved to its most southerly point last weekend, when round 3 of the popular series headed for the picturesque seaside town of Minehead.

145 crews lined up for 11 special stages in the Brendon Hills which included two runs up the fabulous tarmac of the Porlock Toll road.

After a difficult start to their BTRDA campaign, Smith set a string of consistent top ten times on the opening loop of stages to lie 7th at first service a broken shaft on stage five loosing them some time.
But the afternoon loop went well and saw them climb up to 5th, but 4 drivers were covered by just 8 seconds, going into the final 11 mile Croydon test, unfortunately the duo were pipped for that 5th place by just 2 seconds by the hard charging Peter Elkins in his Focus WRC.

"I am pleased with the result, disappointed not to hold on to 5th, really enjoyed the event, but scored good points today and we move onto the Plains next."Stated Ross

Darren Pinchen and Karen Watts returned to the series again, on one of their favourite events, in the Forest Trading Post, Proton Satria 1400,these two had an excellent trouble free day to claim 20th overall, 2nd 1400 and 2nd in class, behind the flying Nova of Julian Wilkes.

Tony Williams with Cinderford's Karen Phelps on board took 29th and 4th in class in the Escort RS
Dave Edwards with Adrian McNally alongside followed up last weekends good finish at Down Ampney with 90th overall, 4th in class in the Mintex backed Escort RS2000.

Apart from a puncture on stage 9 it was a trouble free day for the duo on only their fourth rally together, and really enjoyed the event.

"Really enjoyed the stages, Porlock was awesome stage, it was our first time here, but we,ll be back, thanks to Martyn, Wayne, Mark and Jack for all their hard work today".said Adrian

Those not lucky enough to reach the finish were Ross duo Rhys Price/Mike Jode, the 17 year old started well lying 4th in class after stage 2, only for the rear suspension to break on the next test, fellow Ross crew Gary Bollands and Russ Joseph in the unique GB Motorservices Subaru Station Wagon started well and had a trouble free run until stage 8, when a broken gearbox put them out.

Mark Griffiths/Tom Marrott was hoping to follow up their Wyedean success and started well holding a comfortable class lead after stage 5, but they dropped 30 seconds on the two runs up Porlock due to lack of suitable tyres and down to 3rd in class after stage 7, but fuel pump failure at the start of the next test put them out.

Nigel Jenkins/Kevin Watkins in the NJ Autos 16V Nova but a short lived rally with a broken shaft on the opening stage causing instant retirement.

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