An excellent entry of 60 cars will line up at Pickering Showground on Sunday 6th November for the 9th 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 14th year that proprietor Chris 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. Leading the Historics away will be last years winner Tim Pearcy from Harrogate in his Mk II Escort followed by Charlie Taylor from Northallerton, current leader in the Motoscope Northern Historic Championship.
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/Neil Shanks Harrogate Ford Escort
102 Charlie Taylor/Stephen Bielby Northallerton Ford Escort
103 Roger Kilty/Roger Birkhill York Ford Escort
104 Tim Mason/Graham Wild Bradford Porsche 911 ?
105 Matthew Robinson/Mick Gilby Ripon Escort Mk II
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 former British Rally champion Ryan Champion from Castleton in a Group A Subaru. Stephen Petch/John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC will also provide good competition as will 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. Ryan Champion/Jemma Bellingham Castleton Subaru Impreza
3. Peter Stephenson/Plug Pulleyn Thirsk Ford Focus WRC
4. Stephen Petch/John Richardson Scorton Accent WRC
5. Jim McNeil/Kim Baker York Subaru Impreza
Local crews who are expected to do well include Matt Smith (Pickering) in his Ford KA, Yuk Hodgson (Barton), Mk II Escort and the Swift Caravan historic Escorts of Guy and Pete Smith. Peter Stephenson, navigated by local member Plug Pulleyn will also be completive in the Able Ports sponsored Focus WRC.
A full entry list can be downloaded from the club website www.maltonmc.co.uk
Spectators are welcome at the event and special car parks have been arranged at Pickering Showground, Cropton (Spiers House) and Langdale (Birch Hall) forests. Local scouts and Rotary Club will marshal these. 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. A charge of £10 per car will give access to all spectator stages.
The first competitor leaves from the Showground at 08.30 and proceeds direct to the first stage within the grounds. Times for the first cars at the spectator stages are:
Pickering Showground 08.34/11.32
Cropton 08.57/11.58
Langdale 10.24/13.22
Finish 14.15
Live results can be accessed during the event at http://liveresults.djames.org.uk/2011_Malton/1/index.html
