Pirelli Rally

After missing out on the Bulldog we finally got to see a decent amount of action from the BRC crews in what proved to be a real endurance event for the crews. Keith Cronin & Marshall Clarke (DS3) were consistently quick throughout the Saturday to notch up their first win of the season from Jarkko & Petri Nikara (DS3). The final victory margin had been just over 17 seconds but in truth Cronin backed off on the final stage after holding a bigger lead over initial rally leader Nikara. The podium was duly completed by Mark Donnelly & Dai Roberts (Clio R3) over a minute and a half further back. Still this was welcome for the Sunseeker winner after what happened on the Bulldog. Special mention must go to Elfyn Evans & Phil Pugh (Fiesta R2) who had been 2nd overnight in what was a stunning drive in a less powerful car than the top 3.

Pirelli Rally

After missing out 2010 we were back up in Kielder for the 2011 Pirelli Rally where David Bogie & Kevin Rae (Evo IX) made it 2 wins out of 3 in the BRC. Bulldog winners Elfyn Evans & Andrew Edwards were in close attendance until the end of stage 5 but then they had a character building drive to get to the finish. In the end it was the Fabia S2000′s which completed the podium with Robert Barrable & Damien Connolly a fine second, just over a minute back, with Jonny Greer & Dai Roberts a minute and a half further back in 3rd. In the 2WD section a late check in cost the Clio R3 pairing of Mark Donnelly & Barry McNulty dear. They would have won the category comfortably but instead were fourth. Martin McCormack & David Moynihan (DS3 R3) took the win by almost 20 seconds from the Finnish pairing of Jukka Korhonen & Marko Salminen (Fiesta R2). Craig Breen & Gareth Roberts (Fiesta R2) completed the podium a further 10 seconds back.

Milner masters Pirelli Tour of Cumbria

Former double British Champion Jonny Milner saw off the opposition with a superb victory on today’s Pirelli Tour of Cumbria after a hectic day in a dry and dusty Kielder Forest which saw round two of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship take place.

All to play for in Kielder…

Round two of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship sees many of the UK’s leading rally drivers and their exotic, multi-million pound machinery making the trip to Carlisle in what is set to be a keenly contested affair.

This year sees the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria as the only chance the ANCRO competitors get to tackle the infamous Kielder Forest given the series has been scaled down from eight rounds to six this year, and as such the Jedburgh-based Border Counties Rally has been axed from the calendar.

Interest soars in Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge

After the opening sortie on the south coast with the traditional Rallye Sunseeker last month, the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship heads into more traditional rally country for the remainder of the season and with it lots of interest, particularly in the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge.

Regulations and new website for 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship

Further to the recent announcements regarding a number of sweeping changes to the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Association of National Championship Rally Organisers continues to work at a pace to offer competitors the best possible series for next year.

Today sees the launch of the brand new official championship website, http://www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk, whereby details are now available and competitors can download the 2010 regulations and registration forms as well as accessing other information such as the latest news and details of all the six events which comprise the ANCRO-organised series.

More incentives for 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship

Following on from the recent announcement regarding some radical changes to the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship, a number of further incentives were announced at the annual ANCRO Gala Awards Dinner held in Daventry at the weekend.

Radical changed to 2010 MSA Gravel Rally championship announced by ANCRO

- No control tyres
- FIA-approved fuel
- A reduction to six quality all-gravel events
- Revised scoring system
- Only one dropped score
- 5 registration fee
- Capped entry fees and guaranteed mileage
- Ford Escort Challenge
- 1400cc Cup
- Manufacturers Award reintroduced
- Club Team Award
- Land & Range Rover Cup

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK Round Three Report

- Pirelli Tour of Cumbria – 18th April 2009
- Simon Hughes takes first Evo Challenge victory
- Daniel Barry claims second and continues as championship leader
- Nik Elsmore ends emotional weekend in third

A storming drive in this weekend’s Pirelli Tour of Cumbria by Simon Hughes, together with co-driver Craig Parry, netted him his first win in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, crossing the line 37 seconds ahead of Daniel Barry/Martin Brady, who’s second place sees them continue as championship leaders.

Stage Snippets – Round 3 Pirelli Tour of Cumbria

STAGE SNIPPETS…
Nik Elsmore paid tribute to the late Rex Paddock, who prepared his car for many years and lost his life in a microlight accident last month, with a decal on his car claiming that his mentor was ‘the son he never had and the son he never wanted…’

Ripon driver Charlie Payne was a non starter when his Mitsubishi Lancer WRC suffered a transmission problem during the week in the run up to the event meaning he had to withdraw his entry.