BHRC ends asphalt run at the Tour of Epynt
Three of the nine rounds in the roster are sealed surface and the back-to-back slot on the calendar has seen impressive rivalry played out on the closed roads of the Isle of Man and Argyll.
Now the undulating and unforgiving moorland tests of Epynt are set to challenge contenders before heading back onto the gravel in September, but the two-day blast signs off the grippy stuff with a varied entry ahead of the short summer break.
Seb Perez currently leads the standings after a mighty season in his Porsche 911, a win on the gravel at the Severn Valley Stages a highlight of the year, but the consistency of his campaign sees him enjoy a 26-point lead. His asphalt pace is proven, and Perez will have Craig Drew alongside on the notes this time around.
The nearest contender is Richard Hill with co-driver Patrick Cooper and after being forced to skip Argyll, have some catching up to do. Like Perez, Hill has been super-consistent all year and despite not yet taking a win, finds himself hunting down the lead of the championship on his first BHRC season for over a decade.
Another to skip Scotland, Adrian Hetherington and Ronan O’Neil return in their Ford Escort MKII and sit third in the title race. At the time of writing, Hetherington is using the Ford, but a recently acquired FIAT 131 Abarth could well make its BHRC debut.
Despite missing the first round, British Rally champion Mark Higgins’ two wins put him in the fight in the raucous Triumph TR7 V8. He and Carl Williamson were unstoppable in Argyll, but the narrow bumpy roads of Epynt are a different proposition altogether.
Several contenders return to the fold in Wales after an absence, including Devon’s Rudi Lancaster with Guy Weaver alongside in their Ford Escort MKII. Rally North Wales winners Nick Elliott and Dave Price make a comeback, but in their Escort rather than FIAT, and Baz Wheeler/John Pickavance also make the journey to the ranges.
Mike Simpson and Dale Gibbons stormed to their first BHRC podium with third in Argyll, taking the Category Three [cars registered between 1976 and 1981] honours too. They head for Epynt in a bid to repeat that, although it will be a tough ask this time around and the Dunoon rivalry resumes between them and David and Grace Pedley.
Other regulars return in Wales, including Phil and Mick Squires with their familiar Escort MKII, David Kynaston in his TR7 V8, Lee Ashbury/Ian Jones in their Escort, whilst Phil Harris has Siobhan Pugh alongside in his MK1 as he aims to hunt down Seb Perez in the Category Two [cars registered between 1968 and 1975] battle.
The Tour of Epynt kicks off on Saturday afternoon with four stages across the military ranges, resuming on Sunday for the remainder of the mileage, before the finish in Llandovery later that afternoon.
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