A superb entry of 65 cars will line up at Pickering Showground on Sunday 7th November for the 8th running of the Malton Forest Rally. Sponsored by MEM PROTON who prepare Proton S2000 rally cars for the Asia Pacific and IRC championships, this is the 13th year that proprietor Chis Mellors, a former British rally champion, has supported Malton Motor Club events.
The event is divided into two categories, with Historic cars running 10 minutes in front of the main field. In one of the best historic entries outside the national championship, at least 7 of the competitors will be using the rally as a shakedown for the Roger Albert Clark Rally which starts from Pickering on 26th November. Leading the Historics away will be Darren Moon in his Mk II Escort followed by Conner Corkill from the Isle of Man in a similar car. Local driver Steve Magson will be competitive in his Ascona 400 and the venerable Bob Bean from Cleckheaton will be out in his equally venerable Lotus Cortina. Bob is now well over 70 but remains remarkably competitive.
The top five Historics are;
101 Tim Pearcy/Craig Drew Harrogate Ford Escort
102 Darren Moon/John McNichol Leeds Ford Escort
103 Connor Corkill/Andrew Edwards Isle of Man Ford Escort
104 Charlie Taylor/Stephen Bielby Northallerton Ford Escort
105 Steve Magson/Geoff Atkinson Pickering Ascona 400
Leading the main field away will be event favourites Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley in the Just Ferries sponsored Ford Focus World Rally Car. Their main challenger is likely to be Stephen Petch/John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC closely followed by Tynesider Michael Glendinning (Impreza) and York based Jim McNeil (Impreza). The event counts for a number of regional championships and the Motoscope Northern Historic series.
The top five in the main field are:
1. Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley Ripon Ford Focus WRC
2. Stepen Petch/John Richardson Scorton Hyundai Accent WRC
3 Michael Glendinning/Andrew Roughead Tyneside Subaru Impreza
4. .Jim McNeil/Kim Baker York Subaru Impreza
5. Phil Pickard/Simon Pickard Malton Ford Cosworth
Spectators are welcome at the event and special car parks have been arranged at Pickering Showground, Cropton (Sutherland Lodge) and Langdale (Birch Hall) forests. These will be marshalled by local scouts and Rotary Club. Any revenue surplus will go to these organisations. Full details of spectator facilities and timings are attached to this release or are available to download from www.maltonmc.co.uk by following the link to Malton Forest Rally.
Live results can be accessed during the event at http://liveresults.djames.org.uk/
The first competitor leaves from the Showground at 08.30 and proceeds direct to the first stage within the grounds. Cars return to the showground for service at about 10.15. before departing for Cropton. Cars return again at 12 noon before attemptind a second run of the showground stage before departing for a second run through Langdale. First car is scheduled to finish back at the showground at 14.10.
A full entry list can be downloaded from the club website.
