Pritchard claims maximum BHRC points with Trackrod win

26.09.2023 - 04:26

Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke secured their second Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship win of 2023 after victory at last weekend’s Trackrod Historic Cup [22-23 September].

The Ford Escort MKII crew were locked in a battle with the Porsche of Seb Perez and Gary McElhinney for most of the two-day blast through the Yorkshire forests, but when the 911’s engine began to lose power, Pritchard took maximum advantage, adding to his Tour of Epynt win in July.

His top score was also buoyed by the FIA Category K win, with championship protagonists Nick Elliott and Dave Price taking second spot and keeping their title hopes alive in their FIAT 131 Abarth, whilst Perez coaxed his sick Porsche to the finish to take third.

The infamous Dalby forest provided the perfect curtain raiser with a 12-mile test under the cover of darkness on Friday night. Picking up where they left off at the Woodpecker Rally, George Lepley and Dale Bowen stopped the clocks 4.5 seconds faster than anyone else, their four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Galant suiting the rapid stages well and leading overnight.

Perez would be second in his Category Two [cars registered between 1968-1975] Porsche whilst Pritchard headed into the overnight halt in third. Into Saturday’s five stages, it was Lepley who once again blitzed the opposition, going 15 seconds faster than anyone else to extend his lead to almost 25 seconds.

However, the gearbox cried enough in Cropton, elevating Perez into the lead but only for one stage, as Pritchard headed into service in front, by just one second. However, the two longest stages of the rally remained and instantly Perez hit trouble, with the engine in the Porsche sounding very sick throughout the remaining tests. With the instant time loss, third place and the Category Two win was little consolation.

That left three-time BHRC champion Pritchard to enjoy a well-earnt win in the Yorkshire stages.

“It's been a really enjoyable weekend and another win is nice this season but to be honest, we just came here to have fun and prepare for the Roger Albert Clark after a few events on the gravel” said Pritchard.

“There was some really strong competition out there this weekend so it's good to know we are roughly where we need to be”.

Elliott’s runner-up spot was just what was needed for the title race as arch-rival Roger Chilman struggled on the Yorkshire stages. Elliott’s run wasn’t trouble-free, but it was consistent and with the Escort driver only salvaging fifth, it means the final round of the season in Carlisle at the end of October will play host to the title decider.

Gareth James continued his fine run of form to secure fourth place in his Ford Escort MKII, this time with reigning champion co-driver Dan Petrie on the notes, scooping the first Category Three [cars registered between 1975 – 1981] crew home in the process. With Chilman and Patrick Walsh in fifth, it was youngster James Lepley who rounded out the top six in a fine run for him and Simon Jones in their Escort.

Whilst Perez took the Category Two top spot, the battle for second raged all event between Escort MK1 drivers Josh Carr and Jeremy Easson. In a tit-for-tat early duel, Carr and co-driver Osian Owen took control, only to retire with mechanical issues on the final stage, enabling Easson and Mike Reynolds to take the runner-up position. Warren Philliskirk and Garry Green rounded out the category podium.

Terry Cree and Richard Shores took the top spot in Category One [cars registered before 31.12.67] and their win was enough to secure the championship in their Mini Cooper S whilst Steve Magson and Steve Bielby took a maximum score in the Rally2 [non-historic] category.

The final, title-deciding event takes place in Kielder Forest, with the Carlisle Stages at the end of October.

Provisional Drivers Points after Round 6 – Trackrod Historic Cup