Trackrod Rally

Once again our main focus on this trip was the BHRC runners and the conclusion of Dunlop/wonago.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship. With the title going down to a three way battle between David Stokes, Dessie Nutt and  Jonathan Gale there was plenty to play for. After the first stage it was already down to a battle between two as Dessie Nutt & Geraldine McBride retired their Porsche 911. Gale, co-driven by James Whitaker, now had to hold his nerve and concentrate on finishing and hoping someone could beat Stokes in category 2. Gale took the Historic section of the rally but only just by 1.8s from Graham Waite & Gill Cotton (Amazon). In the post Historics Stefaan Stouf & Joris Erard (Escort MkI) returned to the British forests to follow up their 2009 win on the Trackrod, also taking a fine 3rd overall behind the leading two Escort MkII’s.

LMS Silverstone 1000kms

Another fantastic weekend in Northamptonshire as the re-vamped Silverstone played host to the final round of the Le Mans Series and the opening round of the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup. After the Audi’s dominated in qualifying the Peugeot’s showed the expected race pace, especially as it was a dry weekend. Allan McNish (Audi) had set off well but was soon passed by Anthony Davidson (Peugeot) who then showed the true pace of French marque’s car. McNish retired shortly afterwards with differential failure, making it a 3 car race between the two Peugeot’s, (the 2nd being the Matmut entry), and the one remaining Audi. With consistently fast laps Davidson & Nicolas Minassian took the victory laurels from the 2nd Peugeot of Nicolas Lapierre & Stephane Sarrazin with the podium completed by the Audi of Dindo Capello & Timo Bernhard almost a lap back.

Warwick Town Races

Our 2nd trip to our local closed road cycle races saw us take in the men’s elite race, raced over the final hour of road closures. The field was graced by the presence of Ed Clancy, the current British National Criterium Champion and more significantly the reigning Omnium World Champion on the track. After the initial pace was set by Clancy’s Motorpoint team there was a decisive 5 man breakaway, just before the halfway point in the race. Clancy was in that breakaway and even though he lost his team mate and ally with a few laps to go, due to broken wheel spokes, he had enough in the locker to fend of the challenge from Dutch road racer Jeroen Janssen. James Moss completed the podium.

Woodpecker Rally

With the ANCRO and BTRDA championships coming together on the Woodpecker rally for the 2nd year in succession, there was an awesome entry for the Ludlow based event. It also proved to be very decisive in the championships too with Steve Perez & Paul Spooner (Focus WRC) taking the BTRDA Gold Star title, courtesy of their victory on this rally. Jonny Milner & Ian Windress (Corolla WRC) were 4th overall but top ANCRO crew to secure the National gravel championship. In the Silver Star Jon Ballinger (Manta) came home 3rd registered crew to secure the drivers title, (the co-drivers title will go down to the Cambrian), and lastly Matt Edwards (MG ZR) took the 1400 championship with a convincing victory after his only rival for the championship Darren Pinchin retired on the first stage. The 1400 co-drivers title will go down to the wire though as Edwards will try and secure enough points for Sam Collis to take the spoils whilst Pinchin will salvage something from the season if Karen Watts can grab the title at the last round.