Cambrian Rally

The 2011 BTRDA championship finale turned out to be a battle of two very different Mitsubishi Lancers. Pre-event attention was focused on the Peugeot Cosworth of Andrew Burton & Robin Kellard making its final appearance on a BTRDA rally but stage 2 saw the car succumb to an engine failure, whilst holding the joint lead of the event. Coming out of stage 2 it was co-leaders on stage 1 Shaun Gardener & Ben Innes (Evo 5.9) who took a one second lead from Tom Cave & Craig Parry (Lancer WRC). Stage 3 saw Cave take the lead from Gardener with Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) going fastest and coming back into the reckoning. The next stage, Alwen, proved to be the pivotal one as Cave dropped 14 seconds to Gardener and Hunter hit a gate post retiring on the spot. Gardener & Cave exchanged times through the remaining 4 stages but Gardener kept the advantage stable to take a well deserved win. Completing the podium were Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Focus WRC).

Woodpecker Rally

It just had to be on the final Woodpecker for the legendary Peugeot Cosworth of Andy Burton & Robin Kellard. They took an emotional victory in the end winning by 40 seconds, but early on they had been pushed hard by Roger Chilman & Andrew Sankey (Impreza WRC). Radnor proved to be the turning point as Burton pushed hard and opened up an advantage through the two stages. The battle for third was closer and no less intensely fought as Roger Duckworth & Shaun O’Gorman (Impreza WRC) edged out Shaun Gardener & Ben Innes (Evo 5.9) by just 9 seconds.

Quinton Stages

Round 6 of the BTRDA championship brought the crews to Builth Wells for the Quinton Stages. Andy Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth) were highly fancied to clinch the title and the event, but as it turned out they were off the ultimate pace all day finishing 3rd overall. Instead Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Focus WRC) slugged it out with Roger Chilman & Andrew Sankey (Impreza WRC). The pair were joint fastest on stage 1 before Chilman took the 2nd stage but Payne was then fastest or joint fastest on the next 6 stages to win by 8 seconds. Chilman was clear in 2nd and as previously mentioned Burton was 3rd, which was enough to become the 2011 BTRDA Gold Star champion in the final year for his iconic car.

Dukeries Rally

The BTRDA championship moved into the 2nd half of the season with the Dukeries Rally as it welcomed back 2010 Gold Star Champions Steve Perez & Paul Spooner (Focus WRC). Looking to emulate the great Roger Clark, Perez was attempting to be only the 2nd driver to take a hat trick of consecutive wins and be the first driver to record 4 wins on the event. This would prove to be no mean feat with a quality field assembled behind him. It was Andrew Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth) who struck first to lead after stage 1 and with the top 6 crews beating the bogey on stage 2 nothing changed. Burton then continued to extend his lead second by second, but with 4 stages where the bogey was beaten the rally was a case of what if for the other crews.

Plains Rally

Another thrilling climax to a BTRDA rally with the overall victory coming down to a stall at the start of the final stage. Andrew Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth) had been leading all event until the final stage where they clipped a bank and fell back to 2nd place, just 4 seconds behind Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC). With one stage of less than two miles to go it was Hunter who stalled at startline and Burton knew victory could be his with a clean run. He duly took 9 seconds out of Hunter to win by 5 seconds. Charlie Payne & Paul Spooner (Focus WRC) completed the podium places with a good solid run, just over 30 seconds back.

Somerset Stages Rally

Another fantastic day down in Somerset for the 3rd round of the 2011 BTRDA rally championship. Starting first in the main field were Andrew Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth) who took an initial lead only for Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) to push past them by 1 second overall into first service. Porlock followed and Burton lost time on his less favoured surface and fell behind Roger Chilman & Andrew Sankey (Impreza WRC) also. Hunter held an 8 second lead over Chilman and 11 seconds over Burton after Porlock but then came the push. Chilman halved the gap in two stages and Burton was only a second further back, then on Croydon both Burton & Chilman clawed back the margin so all 3 crews went into the final two stages level.

Malcolm Wilson Rally

Round 2 of the BTRDA championship saw the crews head to the Lake District for what would prove to be a gripping battle. Fastest out of the box were Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) who set fastest times over the first two stages taking a healthy lead into the first Greystoke stage. Sadly the gearbox gave up in Greystoke and Hunter retired from what was a very promising position. Taking over in the lead with fastest time on stage 3 was Andrew Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth). Burton went into Grizedale with a 12 second lead over Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Focus WRC) and came out with a 4 second lead over Roger Chilman & Andrew Sankey (Impreza WRC).

Wyedean Forest Rally

The last Wyedean for the Peugeot Cosworth of Andy Burton & Robin Kellard and it duly proved to be a fairy tale ending as the crew took an emotional victory. The event had started out with Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) taking an early lead over the first stage before Burton took the lead on stage 3 with 2nd fastest time. Meanwhile Paul Bird & Kirsty Riddick (Focus WRC) went fastest on stage 3 to be tied 2nd place overall with Hunter. Stage 5 saw Burton go fastest to take a lead which held until the end of the rally, whilst Hunter had a minor off which enabled Bird to take 2nd overall with Hunter completing the podium.

Wyedean Media Day

Our first rally outing of the year as we visited Chepstow Racecourse for the 2011 Wyedean Forest Rally Media Day. With 20 cars out to entertain the sponsors it proved to be another excellent day. Unfortunately we lost two cars early on as Colin Webb rolled his BMW on the first run and Tim Freeman’s Escort MkII stopped with mechanical issues, (better on a day like this than an actual event though).

Cambrian Rally

That end of term feeling was with us once again as the BTRDA Rally Championship reached its final round, the Cambrian. With a very impressive entry it mattered little that most of the titles had already been decided. In the main rally Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) made a welcome return to the series and at first service were leading by 9 seconds from 2010 Gold Star Champions Steve Perez & Paul Spooner (Focus WRC). But disaster then struck on stage 3 as Hunter lost almost a minute and a half and with that the battle for victory was over. Perez managed the gap and cruised to BTRDA round win number 6 in 2010. Hunter was a creditable 2nd and with any other likely contenders for victory falling off or out of the rally, Alex Allingham & Mark Glennerster brought their group N Impreza home in 3rd sealing the Welsh Championship too.