Tim Rodgers contested his first rally for three years and
his first ever tarmac event last weekend on the Jim Clark Challenge rally and a
strong performance saw him take 7th overall and 5th in class.
Driving a Rally4Real.com Ford Fiesta ST Rodgers, from Burton
upon Stather, and co-driver Stefan Arndt had a good start to the event on the
first of Friday evening’s three stages, powering the car around Duns town
centre in front of a huge crowd of spectators. The long 16 miles Abbey St
Bathans test followed and for most of the stage Rodgers had to rely on his
memory of the route from the recce as the intercom failed meaning he couldn’t
hear the Arndt’s instructions. Despite this Rodgers managed to catch three cars
in the stage. With the intercom working again the crew had a clean run through
the final Friday stage to lie in 9th place overall at the overnight
halt.
Eight stages were scheduled for the Challenge crews on
Saturday but various issues meant that 46 miles of stages were cancelled by the rally
organisers which dented Rodgers’ hopes of pushing for a top five finish. He got
up to 7th overall, missing out on being the first Fiesta ST crew by
just three seconds.
“I’m pleased to get a decent finish and our times compared
very well against the other Fiesta ST drivers which, considering I’ve never
done a tarmac event before, is a good achievement.”
“It’s very disappointing that we lost so much mileage on
Saturday, I had hoped that we could make up enough time to get into the top
five. We gained three seconds on the sixth-placed crew in the two miles of
the final Langton stage so without the stage cancellations I am confident we
would’ve finished higher up.”
“Thanks to Stefan for an excellent job in the co-driver’s
seat, Charlie Stephens for servicing and Becky Kirvan for the loan of her
car.”
