WEEKLY MOTORSPORT ROUND-UP #25

FUCHS-supported CA1 Sport enjoyed success in Scotland on the 2017 running of the McRae Challenge rally on Saturday.

David Bogie and Damien Connolly (Skoda Fabia R5) finished just over a minute ahead of second-placed crew Andrew Gallacher / Jane Nichol (Ford Focus WRC) in typically damp and slippy conditions.

CA1 Sport boss Martin Wilkinson said: “There were muddy patches – but it was the same for everyone!

“David was pleased with his result. He was able to use the conditions to try out different tyre compounds in preparation for Rally GB later this autumn.”

There wasn’t such good news for one of FUCHS’ shining lights, Paige Bellerby, in her latest British Rallycross Championship outing.

Paige’s championship hopes hang in the balance after she finished fifth in her final on Saturday and then seventh on Sunday.

Round Seven on Saturday saw her usual serene progress in the Lotus Exige through the heats to the front row of the Finals grid, but misfortune struck on the fifth of the six laps when she suffered a puncture, losing seven seconds on that lap and a further 14 seconds on the last lap which dropped her from second to fifth.

On Sunday’s wet and slippery eighth round of the championship, Paige racked up a second, first and fifth in her heats, which placed her third on the Finals grid.

But right from the start she found vision a problem as the car in front of her deluged her Lotus’s low-lying, steeply-raked screen in thick mud. She emptied her washers trying to clear the problem but to no avail. Eventually she emptied the washers completely and was left driving blind, resulting in a spin on the last lap, which dropped her from second to an eventual seventh place.

This means that in the final event of the season at Croft circuit, she must win the event and hope that nearest challenger Tristan Ovenden (Renault Clio space frame car) finishes no higher than fifth in order to clinch the championship.

Sister Drew’s weekend got off to a much more cheerful start in her BMW Mini when she won her first heat, and came second in the second heat.

But then the third heat became her nemesis. Coming off her Joker lap, she had what she described as ‘a bit of a coming together’ with another competitor which meant instant curtains for her Saturday hopes. She damaged the radiator and gearbox casing and broke off the clutch slave cylinder mounting. In addition, she also bent the front sub frame.

After a herculean effort by Dad and mechanic Kev working late into Saturday night to repair, fix, and generally fettle the damage, Drew was able to take the start line on Sunday morning for the first heat, in which she finished first, followed by a third in heat two and second in heat three.

She was able to complete the day with a second in BMW Mini class Final. Because of her non finish on Saturday Drew now has the same points situation as Paige – she must win the BMW Mini final, with Martin Hawkes placing no higher than fifth, to secure the championship.

Drew said: “So it was second overall in BMW Minis after one of the hardest weekends racing I've had. I can't honestly thank my Dad and Kev for working and getting my car ready for today. Now looking forward to racing on my home track in four weeks’ time!”

Trackrod Rally Yorkshire could see Ian Joel and Graeme Wood crowned winners of the BTRDA championship B13 class in their FUCHS Lubricants backed Escort Cosworth.

With just four points between the top four it will be a nervy event for some.

The Trackrod is the final round of the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association Series and has an impressive entry of 138 cars to make the Dalby Forest complex echo.

From their base at The Evron Centre, Filey the crews will leave at 8.30am to tackle 45 challenging miles in the Dalby, Langdale, Cropton and Gale Rigg stages.

The FUCHS Lubricants-backed Ian Joel and Wood have contested several rounds of the Series this year but are looking to forget the Woodpecker when they came into contact with the scenery, resulting in a non-finish.

Joel said: “We have really enjoyed our rallying this year and are looking to finish it with a trophy, which will be a thank you to our sponsors for their continuing support.”

Also taking part on the Trackrod Rally this weekend are Fuchs supported Drivers Kim Gray in her Historic class Ford Escort MKII and Steve Magson of SM Autocare in his Historic Mercedes 190.

FUCHS- backed Steve Brown (with co-driver Jane Edginton) changed up a gear on Sunday from his usual Nissan Micra to a Group N Mitsubishi Evo IX to take part in the Heroes Rally at Weeton camp in Lancashire.

Brown settled into the four wheel drive, turbo charged car well, and was pleased with his progress up to 17th place after the first three stages. He described the car as ‘nice to drive – responsive and well balanced’.

But then on the fourth stage the crew thought they had broken a track control arm because the car was mishandling. However, closer inspection in the service area after the stage showed that the problem was a broken front cross-member, which couldn’t be fixed.

The 2017 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship will conclude in style with a winner-takes-all final on the Trackrod Historic Cup in the famous Yorkshire forests (Friday to Saturday).

This season has been all about two crews: defending double champions Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke and pretenders to the crown, Nick Elliott and Dave Price. Now the Ford Escort Mk2 crews head to Yorkshire to finally settle the matter and whichever crew takes maximum BHRC points, they will be champions. Pritchard and Clarke have a three-point lead over Elliott and Price and, with 30 points for first and 25 points for second, the top BHRC score on the Trackrod will earn the title.

It wasn’t a brilliant night for Gavin Murray and Murray Motorsport at Wheels Raceway in Birmingham.

Gavin finished 12th and 10th in the heats, followed by a DNF in the final.

Gavin is back in action at Northampton Raceway this Saturday.

The TWP Racing team, meanwhile, has been exhibiting at the British Motor Museum with the MX-5 Owners Club for the National Rally 2017.

Elsewhere, Adam Morgan will be looking to build on recent results at the final BTCC meeting of the season at Brands Hatch. You can catch all the action from that one on ITV4.

And Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, who proudly wears the Silkolene logo on his leathers, is determined to turn his Showdown fortunes around as he heads to Assen for the penultimate round of the British Superbike Championship.

Shakey trails Leon Haslam by 23 points as he looks to clinch a sixth championship title.