Bulldog Rally

Our focus once again was on the Historic rally and with the stage cancellations that hit the International event, we made the right choice. It was a fine follow up win for Nick Elliott & Dave Price (Escort MkII) who were pushed hard by Julian Reynolds & Patrick Walsh (Escort MkI).  The victory margin was only just over 16 seconds which was a fantastic achievement for Reynolds in older technology. Kevin Davies & Dale Furniss (Escort MkII) completed the podium with 2nd place in the classics. The Historic category went the way of Rikki Proffitt & Phill Harrison (911) but only by 18 seconds after a fine drive by Dessie Nutt & Geraldine McBride (911).

Border Counties Rally

We really do seem to have been blessed with fantastic weather this month and especially on this event, in recent years. The Border Counties was, however, all about the domination of David Bogie & Kevin Rae (Evo IX). They eventually won by almost two minutes. The battle for 2nd place was only split by 9 seconds however as Mike Faulkner & Peter Foy (Evo VI) took 2nd place after a dramatic re-build following his crash on the Malcolm Wilson 2 weeks earlier.

Tour of Epynt

A bumper entry turned out for the first round of the 2012 REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship. Strangely the weather also played its part with unseasonably good conditions all day for the Tour of Epynt. Damian Cole & Dave Engwell (Focus WRC) led after the first loop of stages but from stage 3 onwards Melvyn Evans & Aled Davies switched their Impreza WRC onto the correct rubber and never looked back. In the end they took victory by over a minute from Cole with Peter Lloyd & Ryland James (Impreza WRC) 14 seconds further back.

Mid Wales Stages

The final results from the Mid Wales Stages will show a comfortable win for Nick Elliott & Dave Price in their Escort MkII but it had been a hard fought victory. In the morning wintry conditions reminded the crews that this was still only the first weekend of March. Elliott held only an eight second lead after stage 3 over Will Onions & Dave Williams (Escort MkII) but issues on stage 4 for Onions and shear pace on stage 5 gave Elliott the win. In the post Historics Julian Reynolds & Patrick Walsh (Escort MkI) had the perfect start in their new car. Their victory margin was 49 seconds and they would have been 5th overall. Then in the Historics it was a tighter affair as Paul Mankin & Desmond Bell (Lotus Cortina) won by 27 seconds.

Malcolm Wilson Rally

Round 2 of the REIS Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series saw the crews head up to the Lake District for the Malcolm Wilson Rally. Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) righted the wrongs of the past two seasons as they took a deserved win, leading from start to finish. It was no certainty though as local ace Paul Bird & Kirsty Riddick (Focus WRC) made a rare gravel outing and ended up only 3 seconds shy of the victory. It was a fantastic fightback but the damage was done on stage 1 by Hunter who was 11 seconds faster. Completed the podium just over a minute further back were Euan Thorburn & Paul Beaton in their Focus WRC.