Webster and Rogers clinch BHRC title
FUCHS Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic rally championship
Webster and Rogers clinch BHRC title
Simon Webster and Jez Rogers were confirmed as BHRC champions on Saturday afternoon (28 September) after the final round of the FUCHS LUBRICANTS Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship.
While Matthew Robinson and Sam Collis took back-to-back victories on the Trackrod Historic Cup, Webster and Rogers saw off the challenge of Stanley Orr and Grahame Henderson to emerge as popular overall champions after a tremendously sporting contest. “Simon’s a gentleman and he’s a very worthy champion,” said Orr.
The action opened in the darkness of Friday night with 11 miles in Dalby. On a one-off outing, so not BHRC registered, Matt Edwards and Hamish Campbell (Fiat 131) were quickest by 1.9s from Robinson. In the BHRC title contest, Orr/Henderson, on Orr’s first Yorkshire rally for 30 years, started well by taking time from Webster and Rogers.
Although Saturday dawned very wet, the weather improved and the stages started to dry. Robinson was on it from the start and went 5.8s quicker than everyone in Langdale but in Staindale it was Adrian Hetherington, on his first event in these forests, who was an impressive 3.5s faster.
As the crews headed to service in Adderstone Field, Robinson had just 1.4s on Edwards, while Hetherington and Ronan O’Neil were third, 20s back. Steve Bennett and Osian Owen were a strong fourth. Behind the non-registered Steve Bannister, Webster was sixth from Orr and if things stayed life that, Webster would be champion.
Up front, Robinson added just 2.4s in the 14 miles of Cropton and Gale Rigg, before winning the final Dalby test to secure a home ground victory for the second year running and was typically relaxed after a tremendous performance. “We’ve had a nice run round and having a Saturday off work is the best bit!”
With the rally win settled, the focus turned to the BHRC contest and Orr, now on more suitable tyres, had been quick in Cropton and Gale Rigg to overtake Webster and be 2.1s up heading into final service. However, that was not enough to snatch the title from Webster and now just one stage remained. Orr needed to finish several places ahead of Webster to have a chance of taking the title.
“This is such a nervous time: I’m listening to all the noises,” said Webster before the final stage. However, there was no late disaster and Webster took time back from Orr in the final Dalby stage to arrive at the finish in Filey over four seconds up on his rival and secure as the 2019 BHRC champion. “What a relief to get through that final stage,” he said.
After Cropton, Hetherington was a fine third, half a minute down on the two leaders. Sadly, a puncture in Gale Rigg cost the Irishman around 35s and he dropped to fifth behind Bannister and Bennett. Second BHRC finisher for Bennett was a great achievement despite a spin and a generally scrappy last stage.
In a fine eighth place overall, Josh Browne and Jane Edgington topped the Pinto-powered Escort Mk2s in class D3 despite an off that damaged the front suspension. They also won the class in the BHRC, being confirmed once rivals David Lloyd-Roberts and Dei Jones retired in Cropton with an engine bay fire.
Rory McCann and Tim Tugwell were mighty in their Hillman Avenger and topped class C2 from Stuart and Linda Cariss, while Malcolm and Ron Mounsey had one of their best runs to date to win class D2 in the Sunbeam Talbot.
Notable retirements included the Escorts of Ben Friend, Rudi Lancaster, Chris Skill and Warren Philliskirk. Friend’s awful luck continued when engine problems prompted his 11th retirement from 14 rallies this year.
Unfortunately Bob Bean and Malcolm Smithson rolled their Lotus Cortina at a chicane in Langdale on Saturday morning. Bean had trouble getting out of the car and the stage was halted but he was thankfully unharmed.
Joy for Joel and Wood
A steady and almost drama free run saw Ian Joel and Graeme Wood guide the Ford Escort Cosworth to a fine third in a very competitive class on the Trackrod rally Yorkshire.
A steady start on the slippery tracks of Langdale and Staindale saw the pair in 12thplace as they pulled into Service at Adderstone Field where the service crew were able to replace a leaking oil pipe on the gear box before the car headed out to two more stages in Cropton and Gale Rigg. As they headed back to service, they noted that the gear box was getting hot and notchy – Ian removed the gaiter as they waited for their due time into service, and discovered a 4mm bolt had started to wiggle out of it’s allotted location holding the gear linkage. A quick bit of spannering from mechanic Ian saw all things restored to their rightful place, and they were able to continue the rally. A good run through the final stage in Dalby saw them secure a well-deserved 8thoverall out of 80 starters.
“We must have shifted ten ton of gravel today “, was Ian’s considered verdict at the finish “the stages were really slippy with all the rain, and the Dalby stages were very green with a mossy covering because that forest doesn’t get much use now. But, all in all, we’ve had a good day, and thanks to the organisers and all the officials and marshals for a good rally. We’re also really grateful for the help and technical assistance we get from FUCHS Lubricants throughout the season – thanks to you all.”
This result saw the pair leap up to 3rdoverall in the B13 BTRDA championship standings, concluding a season which had it’s fair share of bad luck, but also highlighting the reliability of the Ford Escort and the consistency of the crew over the seven rounds of the season.
Car woes knock back Naylor / Lawrence in class N4
After a season of unparalleled reliability in the Mitusbishi Evo 9, Patrick Naylor and Ian Lawrence found that all their bad luck came together on the Trackrod rally.
There was a slight chance that both the BTRDA crown and the class win could have been theirs with a good dose of luck but it was not to be. A broken rear shaft near the start of stage two scuppered their ambitions, but they replaced the shaft at first service a continued to leg two. However the diff started playing up on stage 3, and after a closer inspection in service after stage 4, the problem proved to be terminal, and they were forced to retire.
“This was our 1st mechanical retirement of the year but it still looks like we have 3rd overall BTRDA so we can't be too unhappy. Thanks for all the help from FUCHS Lubricants – really appreciate it” was Patrick’s verdict on the season at the Filey finish.
FUCHS Lubricants 1400 championship
AS both Callum Black and Chris Powell had sorted out the top two positions in the championship on the last round in Ludlow, both crews elected to skip the Trackrod, giving third placed Steve Black and co-driver Paul Morris first dibs at the Trackrod honours. This they duly took, with an excellent 27thoverall on the slippery green tracks.
CA1 Sport have mixed weekend in Yorkshire and Sweden
Last weekend saw Martin Wilkinson putting out two service crews – one to support Tom Preston in his Rally GB warmup on the Trackrod rally, and a second crew venturing further afield to look after Fredrik Ahlinon the final round of the Swedish national championship, Rallye Blekingen.
Tom Preston and co-driver Carl Williamson in the Ford Fiesta WRC started well on the Trackrod, lying eighth after the first of the day’s five stages, but things went pear shaped on the second when they went off, swiped a bank, and put paid to a rear wheel and with some body damage. When the crew pulled in to Service, it was discovered that the diff was also broken which meant an instant end to their day.
The FUCHS supported CA1 crew are now facing a race against time to get the car ready this week to take part in Rally GB this coming weekend.
Meanwhile, the Swedish crew were having a much more successful weekend as they helped Fredrik Ahlinto a win on the last round of the Swedish championship. Fredrik was never headed over the course of the event, and finished 43 seconds up on the second placed crew.
Morgan admits anger
Ciceley Motorsport ace Adam Morgan admitted his frustration after disappointment in the penultimate BTCC meeting of the season at Silverstone.
A snapped gear stick during free practice meant the team had to improvise by hammering a metal pole into position. It meant Adam could change gears – but certainly not as easily as he’d like, and the end result was P23 in qualification.
Nevertheless, Adam forced his way through the pack to finish eighth in race one. A job well done.
But it was race two that had the flame-haired racer reeling when a rare mistake saw him spin out at Becketts.
He told us: “It was the first time I have tilted myself in years. I was absolutely gutted. I’ve been through all the data since and, hands in the air, it was my mistake.”
Race three didn’t go to plan, either, as Jason Plato shunted Adam from behind, resulting in another DNF.
Ciceley team-mate Daniel Rowbottom finished P26 in race one, 17thin race two and failed to finish the final race.
Daniel said: “I’ve never been so angry with myself. I knew we should have pitted for wets but the excitement of running up at P8 left me not wanting to risk it.”
Champagne on ice for PBM Be Wiser Ducati
PBM Be Wiser Ducati’s Scott Redding will be hoping to place one hand on the championship trophy as he heads to Donington for the penultimate round of the British Superbikes season.
But team-mate Josh Brookes, who trails Redding by just 14 points, will have other ideas.
It promises to be a thrilling weekend, and we’ll have our eyes on BMW Smith Racing’s Peter Hickman as well, who is currently sixth in the standings.
Celebrations for JSR Racing in Germany
JSR took the long drive to Germany for the last round of the IMBA European championships.
James Dodd was crowned champion after race one by finishing fourth – and he picked up two seventh place finishes in races two and three to complete the campaign.
Andy Smart, meanwhile, made sure of second place overall by coming home in P5 and P9 in races one and two.
Ashley Thomas rode well, too – finishing P6, P5, P5. That meant he finished in fourth position – just 30 points shy of third.
A great achievement by the team.
Andy marches on to title
With the announcement that the final round of the Apico BSMA National championship has been cancelled, Andy Marchant was crowned 2019 Apico BSMA 35+Vets Champion.
“I’m so happy to have the championship again,” he said. “Thank you to my wife, family, friends and sponsors.”
