Pearson puts brakes on Scottish Rally Championship campaign

Leading Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) contender Garry Pearson has called `time` on his assault on the 2019 series and will sit out the final two rounds, effectively ending his title hopes.

Pearson, 27 years old from Duns has enjoyed a prosperous season behind the wheel of his Asset Alliance Group, RAVENOL and George Anderson Builders backed Ford Fiesta R5, but with his chances of taking the coveted Scottish Championship title diminished, he has now elected to concentrate on his 2020 campaign.

Elliott returns in style on Epynt

Nick Elliott and Dave Price made a perfect return to rallying on the asphalt roads of the Epynt ranges in mid-Wales to finish top of the FUCHS LUBRICANTS Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship contenders on round five, the Harry Flatters Rally (Sunday 28 July).

Harry Flatters Rally

The Harry Flatters saw a 90 car field take to the dry stages of the Epynt ranges. Daniel Jones & Kevin Lewis (Escort MkII) were fastest Historic crew through the first stage but a returning Nick Elliott & Dave Price (Escort MkII) grabbed the lead and held a 1s advantage at first service. They were close on the next two stages but a stunning stage saw Jones move ahead. He then pushed the margin out further to take the National A part of the rally by 40s. Elliott meanwhile was embroiled in a tight battle, briefly losing 2nd place to Stanley Orr & Graham Henderson (Escort MkI) on stage 9 before Orr retired after stage 10. Elliott also had a hard charging Joe Price & Chris Brooks (Escort MkII) to contend with and after the 11th and final stage the margin was just 3s.

More details of NEC Classic 35th celebrations revealed

As 2019 marks the 35thanniversary of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, the organisers have chosen to theme Hall 8 as ‘From 1984 – The 35th Anniversary Hall’. Held at Birmingham’s NEC from 8-10 November, this part of the show is dedicated to marques, models and clubs that have appeared since 1984.

Rally club rule change allows 2016 World Cars

World Rally Cars built before the end of 2016 will now be eligible for Barbados Rally Club (BRC) events, following an overwhelming vote by the membership in favour of an amendment to the Club’s 2019 to 2021 Vehicle Regulations. Last evening’s (Tuesday) well-attended EGM at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Clubhouse at Searles, Christ Church, also approved changes to the rules for Modified 4, minimum weights across all classes and some rim widths.

Since the publication of the latest three-year cycle of regulations, including a 2008 cap on World Cars, there has been extensive debate on the subject, within the Club’s Committee of Management (CoM) and among competitors, both in the island an overseas. The Club’s PRO Neil Barnard said: “The overall turnout by members last night was good, with a number of further votes submitted by members via proxy. The change of the rules to allow WRC cars up to 2016 was approved by an overwhelming margin.”

Proton Iriz R5 dominates coveted Goodwood Forest Rally Stage

The new Proton Iriz R5 stormed to its first victory since being fully homologated by the FIA, winning the coveted Forest Rally Stage shootout at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed (4-7 July).

Despite making an appearance at the world-famous event in 2017 and 2018, the Mellors Elliot Motorsport built machine was still in its development phase and at the time, was not ratified by the sport’s governing body.

Stone relights his Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship title fire with maximum points in Northern Ireland

John Stone has re-ignited his Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title challenge by scoring maximum points on the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally in his Legend Fires-backed Ford Fiesta WRC.

Co-driven by Jack Morton, the Blackburn driver was fastest out of the blocks on a very wet and slippery opening stage to open up an immediate advantage – which was the start of a titanic battle between Stone and arch rival Damian Cole, who immediately set about fighting back after an over-cautious start. As Cole began his fight back, Stone lost a slight bit of momentum on SS2 when a software issue with the new boost pack on his ex-Mikko Hirvonen car made it feel down on power, but he’d retained his lead at the end of a tricky opening loop of three stages.

From Virtual Reality to the Real Thing: Armstrong Wins Down Rally

Reigning World Rally Esports Champion, Jon Armstrong, has secured victory at a sensational Carryduff Forklift Down Rally, round four of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship!

Down Rally

Over 120 crews took the startline at the Eikon Centre for the Down Rally, in a small window of good weather which surrounded the event. Jonny Greer & Kirsty Riddick (Fiesta R5) were defending their 2018 victory and came out the blocks faster than the opposition to take almost 10 seconds out of the next fastest crew Meirion Evans & Jonathan Jackson (Fabia R5), through the opening stage. By the time the crews had got to the first service Greer was first with just 1s chipped off his advantage but stage 4 would see Evans fall away as he dropped 7 minutes with a puncture. Jon Armstrong & Noel O’Sullivan (Mini WRC) had climbed up to 3rd overall after a fastest time on stage 2 but a puncture cost them 50 seconds on stage 4 so the top 3 was shook up. Daniel Harper & Chris Campbell (Mini WRC) were up to 2nd place with Stephen Wright & Liam Moynihan (Fiesta R5) up to 3rd place.

Epynt date for BHRC contenders

The daunting challenge of the asphalt roads of the Epynt ranges in mid-Wales form the next destination for contenders in the FUCHS LUBRICANTS Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship for round five, the Harry Flatters Rally (Sunday 28 July).

The Brecon Motor Club event marks the first asphalt rally of the championship season after the opening four gravel rounds. After the Harry Flatters is the asphalt of the Ulster Rally before the action returns to gravel for the final round in Yorkshire in late September.