Bentham’s David Wright enjoyed a successful debut event in his new GPM-prepared Mitsubishi Evo 9 when he took third place overall on the Malcolm Wilson rally in Cumbria last Saturday (7th March).
Despite only driving the car briefly at a test session before the rally Wright and co-driver Michael Wilkinson were immediately on the pace on the opening Hobcarton stage setting 4th fastest time.
“I was pleased to be on the pace with the new car. We had a test in Stang forest before the rally to get things set up properly and the work paid off,” said Wright.
“As well as the new car I’d to get used to a new co-driver for the event so that made the time even more pleasing”.
Quick times on the Comb and Wythop stages saw Wright and Wilkinson up to third overall as the rally headed to Greystoke forest near Penrith. The Greystoke stage proved unlucky as the car picked up a puncture which lost the crew over 40 seconds to the leaders, dropping them to 9th place.
Two stages in Grizedale followed with Wright flying through the forest and setting two second fastest times to jump back up to third place, a position which was consolidated on the final Greystoke stage.
“The puncture was disappointing, without the time loss we would’ve finished second overall and got maximum points as the rally winner Steve Perez was not registered.”
“However, I enjoyed the event and the car was fantastic. Thanks to GPM for preparing the car and to Grove Hill Garage and Kumho Tyres for their support. We’re going to make a few refinements to the car over the next few weeks and then hopefully we’ll be out again on the Somerset Stages in April.”
The Malcolm Wilson rally was the second round of the BTRDA rally championship. Wright currently stands in fourth place in the championship.
By Songasport
