Rally Yorkshire

Another good day up in North Yorkshire saw an exciting finale to both the BTRDA and BHRC seasons. With the title decided in the BTRDA it was a fight between 2017 Gold Star Champions Stephen Petch & Michael Wilkinson (Fiesta WRC), Charlie Payne & Carl Williamson (Fiesta WRC) and Hugh Hunter & Rob Fagg (Fiesta WRC). In the BHRC it was a straight fight between Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Escort MkII) against Nick Elliott & Dave Price (Escort MkII) for the title, with local ace Steve Bannister & Callum Atkinson (Escort MkII) sure to be in the mix too.

MG Car Club Autumn Trial

For our first time we caught our local event, the MG Car Club Autumn Trial. Based in Burton Dassett Country Park, as it has been for over 40 years, this event is just 15 minutes away for us but clashes, over the years, have prevented us from attending. Sadly it looks like this will be the last running of the event due to changes at Warwickshire County Council with regards to motorsport events running in the park. This seems like utter madness as the entertainment provided to the unsuspecting public was fantastic to watch. With a mixture of production cars it was the Hillman Imps which proved to be the class of the field.

Rally Isle of Man

A trying weekend on the Isle of Man for competitors and especially the organisers saw a thrilling finale to the BRC season. The rally was split into two legs and Keith Cronin, co-driven by Mikie Galvin in his Fiesta R5, won the opening leg by 18.5 seconds. Matt Edwards & Darren Garrod (Fiesta R5) took 2nd place and were now out of the title battle but a 3rd place saw Fredrik Ahlin & Torstein Eriksen (Fabia R5) keep the championship lead. Cronin needed a carbon copy result in the 2nd leg to be champion. It was a little closer than planned but Cronin got a repeat result to take the title, his 4th in the BRC, by 1 point. The gap to Edwards was just 0.1s with Ahlin almost 25 seconds back in 3rd, having lost that time and more after a costly off on the Friday night.

Tour of Britain

Back out on the Tour of Britain again and the individual time trial proved pivotal. Clacton-on-Sea hosted the 16km stage and a stiff headwind on the final quarter really tested the riders. Lars Boom (Lotto NL Jumbo) took the stage victory and took the overall leaders jersey too. The following 3 stages proved really challenging with blustery winds and sharp showers, along with constant attacks from his GC rivals but Boom held on to take his 2nd Tour of Britain title.

Woodpecker Rally

Back to dry and dusty conditions for the 2017 Woodpecker Rally saw a quality field take on the best stages of the Welsh marches. Jamie Anderson & Ella Flynn (Lancer WRC) were fastest through the opening stage and were joint fastest on the 2nd stage to hold an early lead. Paul Bird & Jamie Edwards (Focus WRC) were in 2nd and when gearbox gremlins struck Anderson during stage 3 they were leading going in to the Haye Park stage (SS4). Callum Black & Elliott Edmondson (Fiesta R5) were 2nd, just 8 seconds back, but the best part of 20 seconds dropped on stage 4 moved Hugh Hunter & Rob Fagg (Fiesta WRC) up in to 2nd overall at final service.