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The
event was split in two with the crews tackling four stages totalling
around 20 miles before service and then the final 18 miles of the
event over the three remaining stages.
With
reports of the slippery conditions on the first four stages, they
were driven with some caution by Andrew and Rob, although at times
they were committed to the stage.
Despite a few moments they were posting times in the top half
on the Ka field.
They
arrived at service with no major problems and on dead level terms
with rival Innes Clark. It
was only mid-way through the service halt as Andrew checked around
the engine he discovered that the gearbox mount had broken.
This was nothing new to him as it was an identical break to
the one experienced the weekend prior while running as course car on
his local event. With
no time to change the mount running repairs were made in the hope
they could complete the final three stages.
With
the smooth running off the event it was impossible make any time
comparisons between Innes and Andrew, therefore despite the obvious
problem under the bonnet Andrew was more committed to the final
three stages in the hope of winning the battle.
On
stage five Andrew gained the upper hand taking a 10 second lead
before Innes pulled 3 back on the very next stage on which Andrew
and Rob encountered problems with there intercom loosing it for the
final 2.5 miles of the stage.
This bought the margin down to a mere 7 seconds.
Unknown
to either Andrew or Rob they were also in a scrap with Ben Smith.
Smith had been in 9th with 21 seconds over Andrew
and Innes but on five and six that had been reduced to 6 ahead of
Andrew.
Stage
seven was probably the best of the day for Andrew with a good clean
run that saw chances taken but at the same time kept neat and tidy.
As a result they would pip Smith for 9th by 1
second and take a further 4 over Clark.
Andrew
and Rob finished the event 93rd overall from the 180 that
started from Welshpool, but more importantly they were 9th
Ka home. The
points scored on the event helped Andrew to secure 16th
place in the driver’s championship and 5th in the
Junior category. Rob
achieved his best placing of the season on the last event and more
than doubled his total with the points scored, leaving him in 24th.
Andrew’s
regular co-driver Richard Skinner who has been sidelined for the
last two rounds with a back injury also finished the season in 16th
place.
Next up for Andrew will be the Kingsmead Stages on the Isle of Man,
while Rob will return to the Welsh forests for the Bulldog rally
alongside another Manxman George Collister in a MKII Escort.
Thanks
for continued support goes to :- Mark Higgins Rallying, Forest Experience Rally School,
Pirelli, Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Ken & Ev Leece, N A
Fargher Newsagents, Motivation Engineering, Manx Telecom, Haydn
Minay Ltd, 1st Choice Windows, Star Services, Isle of Man
Sports Foundation, Edwin Dennis Signs, Integrated Capabilities,
Tower Insurance Ltd, Manx.net, Aon (IOM) Ltd, Richard Skinner, www.rallycodriver.co.uk
, Andy Kennaugh, Gary Thompson, Tim Foster of RVL Rally Hire and
everybody else who has helped in this “character building”
year!!
Co-ordinator
RF Motorsport
24/09/2003
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