Grenaby’s George Collister will contest the Kingsmead Stages Rally this Saturday, the 25^th October.   The event is the 5^th round of the A.V. Craine & Sons Manx Stage Rally Championship and he will be hoping for a strong showing to add to the points he scored on the last round.

Alongside as usual will be Rob Fagg, backed by the Manx Motorsport Youth Trust who is hoping George can bring confidence to the event after their strong showing on last weekends Bulldog Clubman’s Rally where they finished 7^th overall.   He is currently lying in third place in the co-drivers championship and a good result would see him improve on that in the race for the title.

The Q&S Motors backed Escort MKII is currently under going routine checks to ensure that the car is in the best possible condition for the event.   Since the addition of the Motivation Engineering built Vauxhall Astra power plant the car has been transformed and is giving George the power to compete in the top 5 on all events.

In the last round of the championship, the Duke stages back in September, George and Rob scored a surprise 3^rd place.   The surprise coming from the fact that it was thought the top 4 places would be filled by the host of 4WD machinery, but with accidents, retirements and penalties the top three was filled by 2WD cars.

The stages for this round are fast and will suit the higher-powered cars, but with a number of runs down Slieu-Whallin there will be chance for some time to be clawed back.   George and Rob will be hoping for a top 10 finish on the event

The event will take place in the south of the island with the first car due to leave the St Johns start at 08:15.   The crews will then tackle fifteen fast tarmac stages totalling 80 miles with a finish time around 16:30 back at St Johns.   The rally will have a centralised service for the event and this will provide an ideal time for spectators to get up close and personal with the drivers and look over there machinery.

Thanks for continued support goes to: Motivation Engineering, Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Q & S Motors, Integrated Capabilities, Reynolds and Turner, Aon (IOM) Ltd, Sign and Design, Manx.net, Manx Telecom, 4WD & Van Centre, Cronk Aashen Farm Campsite, Tim Shearman, www.rallycodriver.co.uk

Co-ordinator
RF Motorsport
21/10/03