Battling finishes and a Class win for FUCHS backed teams

Nicky Grist Stages

FUCHS supported rally crew Ian Joel and Graeme Wood had a near-perfect run on Saturday on the Nicky Grist Stages rally in mid-Wales to record their first class win of the season and a splendid top 10 finishing position out of a high class entry of 113 crews on the BTRDA championship event.

From a starting position of 12th on the road, Joel and Wood in their immaculate Ford Escort Cosworth started well with top 10 times on the first three stages. 

Wood said: “These mid Wales stages suit Ian’s driving style – they’re fast and flowing, and he keeps up a good pace through the multiple corners.”

Stage 4 saw their only glitch of the day, when the Escort stalled on a tight square right junction losing them eight or nine seconds, but after that the crew picked up their pace again and were never out of the top ten, eventually finishing 7th overall amongst a host of modern R5 and WRC cars.

Afterwards, Joel explained: “That was a really good event, and these stages are made for my car – I have the confidence to keep the power on through the corners, because I know Graeme will be spot on with the route notes.”

“Our thanks to FUCHS Lubricants for their support.”

It was not a good day for Pat Naylor and the Mercian Rally Team, however.

After the highs of the class win on the Carlisle Stages, Naylor was well on the pace on Stage 1 Lyn Login, comfortably in second class position, just three seconds behind first.

But the team went for a big push on Stage 2 Route 60 and hit a bump while cutting the corner on a sweeping downhill left bend, which launched the car over the track into the ditch on the other side causing a puncture. 

They had to stop and change it causing them to finish last on that stage at 105th O/A and 103rd O/A after stage two. 

Naylor then had a big fightback and a few other moments to finish 33rd overall, fifth in class by the end - but the damage was done and they can no longer win the class in the Championship. 

The team now looks forward to the Woodpecker to see if they can consolidate their current second place. 

FUCHS Lubricants MSA British Historic Rally Championship

The Ford Anglia of Malcolm Rich and Arwel Blainey heads the new BHRC2 after four of the season’s eight events.

Over 20 crews have already scored points in BHRC2, which has been created to turn the spotlight on the REIS Category 1 (pre-1968) cars and all other up to 1600cc cars in the FUCHS Lubricants MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

“We created BHRC2 to give these competitors their own identity within the overall championship,” said Colin Heppenstall from the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club. “I’m pleased to see that support has been excellent over the first four gravel rallies of the season and there is some tremendous competition.”

At the mid-season break, just 32 points cover the top four crews and the top 10 is equally split between Category 1 and 1600cc crews. Interestingly, these two groups are very evenly-matched on the stages with often only a second per mile or less separating the fastest 1600cc crew from the best Category 1 crew.

With four strong scores already under his belt, Rich has taken the early advantage from Robin Shuttleworth/Ronnie Roughead (Ford Escort Mk1), Rikki Proffitt/Graham Wild (Porsche 911) and Bob Bean/Miles Cartwright (Lotus Cortina). However, with scores to be dropped and three asphalt rounds coming up next, it is still wide open. 

The strength of support and ever-growing interest in BHRC2 adds to the push to ensure that these cars continue to run at the head of the field on gravel rallies in 2019 and beyond.

Ashleigh Morris Racing

Scottish star Ashleigh Morris ventured south to Knockhill for the second clockwise Scottish Motor Racing Club event of the 2018 season, and the fourth meeting so far.

Race day was an absolute scorcher and Ashleigh qualified in P13, only seven tenths of a second behind pole. Ashleigh fought hard in race one and recorded a very respectable P11, followed swiftly by a personal best P9 in race two, despite a poor start and running off the track for a period.

And there was better to come for Ashleigh as she managed a fantastic 8th place finish in race three, returning to the paddock to a hero’s welcome.

Next up for the team is a trip to Knockhill Racing Circuit on August 4 and 5.

 

UWTSD Orthrus Racing

Students from University of Wales Trinity St David in the UWTSD Orthrus Racing team took part in the Southern 100 for the first time – and with some success.

Having qualified for the 600 race, Sam Mousley finished 24^th in the first outing.

Some changes to the suspension were made for the second race, and Sam came home two positions better with a new fastest lap of 102.5mph.

The flagship 600 race of the event is based on the fastest laps from the previous races, so UWTSD Orthrus Racing qualified in 25th position. Unfortunately, the race was red flagged shortly after starting due to an incident and James Cowton sadly passed away.

 

South Coast Honda Racing

Last weekend saw the local round of the British Mini Bike Road Racing Championship at Lydd Kart Circuit.

The team had season contender Dayne Kent Blackburn in action, but he was supported by a number of guest riders including team owner Rob Booth.

Race one saw Dayne drop to eighth from sixth off the start before moving back up to seventh on lap six and setting about closing the gap to the lead group. Dayne closed the gap but just run out of laps to make the move back into the top six.

Race two, Dayne got off to a flying start and jumped from sixth to fourth in lap one and was on the wheels of the top three. Over the first few laps, Dayne pushed hard and was asking a lot of the rear tyre especially in the heat, but it was too much for the tyre and on lap three it lost grip and Dayne crashed. 

It took some time to get going again but Dayne re-joined and tried to salvage some points, eventually coming home in 19th.

It was a disappointing end to a promising weekend for Dayne, but the SCH guest riders Rob Booth, Craig Bradley and Shaun Strudwick had strong performances in their group.

 

TWP Racing

A journey to Belgium and the fantastic Spa Francorshamps circuit for the students of Wrexham Glyndwr University saw the latest 750 Motor Club CARTEK event with two 100 minute races.

Car 72: Graeme McMurchie and Nick Dougill took the Mk1 MX-5 to a respectable 49th on the grid with a 3:02:850 lap, not bad for a 23 year old car and marginally older drivers!

Come the flag an incredible dream win in Class finishing just 30th overall with a lap in hand against the closing RX-8 of Liam Crilly. Whilst not the first win for the car it is since entering the Club Enduro series three years ago and pushes the car further forwards towards that all-important championship final position.

A dream for the drivers too and just rewards for the pair who have stood by the team as it has grown and developed.

Race two proved to be a little more challenging, racing on the 'spares', however the pair would return to the podium to collect the 3rd in Class title by the end of the race rounding off a successful weekend.

Kershaw Racing

Steve Kershaw and Stuart Clark are back in action in the British Sidecar Championship this weekend at Brands Hatch.

The pair have an amazing 90 point lead at the top of the table after three wins at Knockhill. Another strong weekend at Brands and Kershaw Racing will have one hand on the title trophy.

 

Staffordshire Cycling Festival

Staffordshire Cycling Festival, supported by FUCHS Silkolene, hits the streets of Stafford on Sunday.

Thousands will line the streets as some of the country’s top cyclists battle it out for the podium.

 

British Superbike Championship

Also returning this weekend is the British Superbike Championship, which heads to Brands Hatch. FUCHS Silkolene-backed Glenn Irwin is looking good for a Showdown spot, currently in fourth, while fellow Silkolene ambassador Leon Haslam is top of the standings with a 74-point lead over Jake Dixon.