Pirelli Rally

After missing out on the Bulldog we finally got to see a decent amount of action from the BRC crews in what proved to be a real endurance event for the crews. Keith Cronin & Marshall Clarke (DS3) were consistently quick throughout the Saturday to notch up their first win of the season from Jarkko & Petri Nikara (DS3). The final victory margin had been just over 17 seconds but in truth Cronin backed off on the final stage after holding a bigger lead over initial rally leader Nikara. The podium was duly completed by Mark Donnelly & Dai Roberts (Clio R3) over a minute and a half further back. Still this was welcome for the Sunseeker winner after what happened on the Bulldog. Special mention must go to Elfyn Evans & Phil Pugh (Fiesta R2) who had been 2nd overnight in what was a stunning drive in a less powerful car than the top 3.

Pirelli Rally

After missing out 2010 we were back up in Kielder for the 2011 Pirelli Rally where David Bogie & Kevin Rae (Evo IX) made it 2 wins out of 3 in the BRC. Bulldog winners Elfyn Evans & Andrew Edwards were in close attendance until the end of stage 5 but then they had a character building drive to get to the finish. In the end it was the Fabia S2000’s which completed the podium with Robert Barrable & Damien Connolly a fine second, just over a minute back, with Jonny Greer & Dai Roberts a minute and a half further back in 3rd. In the 2WD section a late check in cost the Clio R3 pairing of Mark Donnelly & Barry McNulty dear. They would have won the category comfortably but instead were fourth. Martin McCormack & David Moynihan (DS3 R3) took the win by almost 20 seconds from the Finnish pairing of Jukka Korhonen & Marko Salminen (Fiesta R2). Craig Breen & Gareth Roberts (Fiesta R2) completed the podium a further 10 seconds back.

Pirelli Rally

Stunning weather up North once again, this time for the Pirelli Rally. The headlines will be taken by Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors, who took their Lancer Evo IX to a last stage victory over the Impreza N11 of Mark Higgins & Bryan Thomas, in a repeat of what happened on the Bulldog Rally.  Completing the podium places was the Evo X of David Bogie & Kevin Rae.

However the rally looked like a dream debut for the Proton Satria Neo S2000 of Guy Wilks & Phil Pugh but an off, and subsequent fire, put paid to his chances of a hat-trick of wins on the Pirelli. Further back Craig Breen & Gareth Roberts took the honours in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy whilst Martin McCormack & Phil Clarke won the C2R2 cup with Richard Sykes & Simon Taylor taking top honours in the Swift Cup.