Dilworth races to Radnor success

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Two days of tough competition saw Tim Dilworth take victory in round two of the Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship which was held on farmland and forest tracks at Radnor. Round one winner Richard Kershaw took second place, 37 seconds behind, with Dan Lofthouse in third.

Holywell’s Dilworth and navigator Anthony Brinkman got their event of to a fast start, covering the six mile course 9 seconds ahead of Kershaw in their Peugeot 206. Dilworth kept up his pace throughout day one in changeable weather conditions, ending up 16 seconds ahead of Kershaw after the seven runs.

"Day one went very well, we had a few problems with the exhaust but otherwise it was troublefree,” said Dilworth. “The track was absolutely brilliant with some very fast parts and some technical bits as well.”

Day two dawned bright and sunny and Dilworth and Kershaw traded fastest times on the drying track but despite a late charge Kershaw could not challenge for victory.

“We had a difficult weekend with some problems on the car,” Kershaw said. “It’s been a good weekend’s racing though, a fantastic event on a good course.”

Dilworth was delighted with his victory after having problems with his car on several previous events. “It’s been a long time coming, it was nice to give Richard a run for his money,” he said. “I was at the Higgins Rally School last weekend and the tuition seems to have paid off!”

Lofthouse took a solid third place in his Lofthouse Proto LD4. “I’m pretty happy with the result, the guys in front were setting blistering times. We couldn’t catch them so decided to play safe.”

Chris Hammond was fourth in his Milner R5 after an event-long battle with Martin Gould. “It’s more points in the bag for the championship, we had a good event and the track had a mix of everything which was excellent, a credit to the organisers.”

Bob Seaman took victory in Trophy class in his Milner R4 from Paul Myers in the Britpart 100. Dave Marsh won the Clubman event in a QT Wildcat.

Results

1. Tim Dilworth Peugeot 206 1:43:25
2. Richard Kershaw Peugeot 206 Evo 9 1:44:02
3. Dan Lofthouse Lofthouse Proto LD4 1:45:12
4. Chris Hammond Milner R5 1:46:31
5. Martin Gould Mattserati 1:46:41
6. James Webb Milner R4 1:49:16
7. Ian Rochelle Millington Mattserati 1:50:53
8. Ben Gott TMC DB M2 1:58:02
9. Steven Smith JRG Indy 2 2:01:19
10. Ian Bartlett Bartletts 3M206 2:04:11

Shelley targets top spot on Plains rally

Lancaster’s Shelley Rogerson resumes her BTRDA rally championship challenge next Saturday (16th May) when she will contest the Plains rally with Andrew Burton in his Peugeot Cosworth.

Shelley, 23, has a good record on the Welshpool-based event having finished second in 2007 with Burton and taking victory in 2005 with Geoff Jones in a Subaru Impreza. Hopes are high for another good result.

“We got a good points score on the last championship round in Somerset so we’re aiming for another decent score on the Plains,” said Shelley.

“It would be great to repeat my 2005 win but we’ve got some tough competition. I’ll be happy if I can improve on the fifth place I’ve currently got on the championship.”

The event kicks off with a stage around the Mick Jones timber yard near Welshpool before heading into the forests for the bulk of the 45 competitive miles with the crews returning to the timber yard for the final stage before the finish.

“The rally uses some of the classic Welsh forestry stages such as Dyfi and Gartheiniog and they’re some of my favourites. Hopefully we will have a trouble free run. I’d like to thank Co-ordSport, Nicky Grist, Gilletts Spar and Songasport for their support.”

For more information on Shelley’s rallying please visit www.shelleyrally.com.

Wright aiming for a successful Plains debut

Bentham-based David Wright will be back in rally action next weekend (May 16th) when he competes in the fourth round of the BTRDA rally championship, the Plains rally. Wright and co-driver Michael Wilkinson will be driving a GPM Mitsubishi Evo 9 backed by Grove Hill Garage and Kumho Tyres.

It will be Wright’s first attempt at the event but after an excellent start to 2009 which sees him lie third in the championship he is optimistic that a good result can be achieved.

“The car performed really well on the last championship round in Somerset so although I’ve not contested the event before I’m hopeful of getting a good result and keeping up my championship challenge,” said Wright.

“We had some issues with the engine last week when testing but it should all be back together ready for the weekend.”

“There’s going to be some tough competition on Saturday, I’ll be happy to do well against my championship rivals and finish somewhere near the top of the leaderboard.”

The rally is based in Welshpool with the majority of the 45 competitive miles taking place in the Welsh forests. More information can be found at www.plainsrally.co.uk.

Rachel gets to the finish at sunny Three Sisters

Carlisle rally co-driver Rachel Medich was in action again at the weekend when she contested the Procare Stages at the Three Sisters race circuit near Wigan. Rachel was competing in a Talbot Sunbeam with Martin Lynch and they finished 25th overall after 12 stages at a very sunny venue. Rachel tells us about her event in this exclusive interview.

Was this your first time competing at Three Sisters? What did you think of the venue?

It was actually my second time there in the MGL Transport LTD backed Talbot Sunbeam, we did the event last year, it was one of our few finishes in 2008. I think it's a fantastic venue with a very reasonable entry fee, it's the type of place you go to for a tarmac test or even just to get a finish, it's good fun, you can entertain the crowd for sure.

Martin has been competing more in the forests lately, how did he do on the tarmac?

He thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the "drifting" corner. It was run in both directions but he seemed to go quicker when we were using the circuit right handed. He's finished every time he's been there so far and he says he's definitely a tarmac man but, although he may not admit it, I think he has a big soft spot for the forests and he's entertaining in there!

You crossed the finish line totally sideways at one point, what was going on there?

We did it a few times, we came out of a hairpin right and as Martin put the power down the back end tried to overtake the front resulting in a full-on broadside over the finish and a cheer from the stop line. That's what makes rear wheel drive extra special, not only is it good fun in the car, the spectators love it and Martin is only too happy to indulge everyone.

Any other incidents during the day?

Yes, aside from the many, many sideways incidents we managed to clip a kerb and almost roll. I wouldn't mind but I was concentrating so hard I didn't notice until we thumped back down onto the track. Of course it was me up in the air which makes it even stranger that I didn't notice. I did however see the looks on the marshals' faces, poised for action springs to mind. I'm still waiting on a photograph of it but it would appear that no one caught it on camera.

It must be pleasing to complete an event in the Sunbeam after you've had a few retirements in it?

Yes it is, I was very happy for Martin, he has the worst luck of anyone I've known in rallying. It's not just the Sunbeam we've had retirements in, we didn't fair much better in "The Beast" which is an Ascona-engined Peugeot 306 painted in battle ship grey matt paint. That thing is VERY sideways. We had a joke going into one of the final stages that we were so tired because we never usually got that far and our bodies had already switched off. Martin has won the Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club's "piston broke" trophy for two years in a row, it's awarded to the person with the most retirements, we don't want him winning it again.

Did you have a Three Sisters breakfast?

I had a bacon roll. Everyone has their little pre-rally traditions and mine is to have a bacon roll. The only time I haven't managed was on Mull and that was a combination of extreme nerves and the fact that our start time was 21.10 and we'd not long since had supper. Martin and Ian, our service chap, indulged in a full works breakfast though.

When are you planning to be out next?

My next event will be on the 7th June at Weeton where I will be part of a 50th birthday present for one of my drivers Dad's, he'll be presented with everything from the car and racesuit to codriver (me). We have a feeling he's going to love it!

Images from the Procare Stages

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An unusually sunny Three Sisters race circuit was the venue for the Wigan MC-organised Procare Stage. After 12 stages the Lotus Europa of Stuart Deeley claimed victory from Mark Roberts in his Escort and Dave Burns in the BAT Motorsport Corsa.