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Leading Manx Coodriver
Rob Fagg remains on track for two major rally Championship
titles this year after two consecutive hot and dusty weekends of
mixed success. Competing alongside Ludlow Rally star James
Wozencroft, the Suzuki Ignis crew convincingly won last
weekend's Scottish 'Stars of the Future' Rally, and finished
second in the Silkolene 1400 National Rally Championship points on
this weekend's Dukeries Rally.
Wozie was keen to make
his mark on the Scottish event, the third round of the British
Rally Championship's new 'Stars of the Future' series. After
impressive wins on the opening two rounds in Wales and Kielder,
James and Rob had to battle rough stages and extremely dusty
conditions in order to take their third consecutive victory of the
year. The result now gives the duo a commanding lead in the
Championship, with the Thompson Garages backed Suzuki Ignis 1400cc
machine definitely proving to be the car to beat in the new
category.
Wozencroft's
attentions then turned to the forest stages native to Robin Hood
country this weekend, as he and Rob contested the Dukeries Rally,
the sixth round of the BTRDA backed Silkolene 1400 National Rally
Championship. Widely regarded as one of the most competitive
championships in the UK, the duo have already tasted the victory
champagne on three of the five rounds previous to the Mansfield
based event.
Things couldn't have
got off to a worse start for the pair, as the Dunlop Tyres shod
Ignis stuck in 4th gear halfway through the opening stage of the
rally. Wozie coaxed the Suzuki out of the stage where the problem
was rectified, and he then set about making up the 20 second
deficit to 1400 leader George Thomas over the remaining six
stages. It was nip and tuck as Wozie edged closer to the flying
Thomas, with barely a second separating the duo on three
consecutive stage times.
Going into the final
12 mile stage of the rally, Wozie and Rob were just 10 seconds
behind the Nova man. A concerted effort from the Ignis duo was
planned, but it all went horribly wrong halfway through the
stage. Approaching an artificially tightened square left corner,
the Ignis spun on the sandy gravel, glancing a gate post, which
bent the rear beam and wheel. As if that was not bad enough, the
impact slid the Suzuki across the road and into a soft bank. The
car was stuck, and co-driver Rob had to get out to help the
spectators push the car back onto the road. Around 50 seconds
were lost in the process, and James had to settle for second in
the points on the event.
Despite the
disappointment, James was pleased to have taken another strong
points haul. With more Silkolene 1400 outings planned for the
remainder of the year, James is keen to try and make it two
championships this year, but is taking nothing for granted:
'Things are going well
on both fronts at the moment' said James after the Dukeries. 'Its
looking very strong for us in the Stars of the Future series, but
we have some tough events to come. Tarmac is not a surface I have
much experience on, so the forthcoming Jim Clark Memorial Rally
will be a big test for me. A good result will see us in good
shape for the remaining gravel rounds. As for the Silkolene 1400
series - we'll have a really tough battle with George Thomas from
now on. His pace has been stunning lately, so its going to be
hard work to beat him on the remaining rounds. Having said that,
the Suzuki and Dunlop tyres package is very strong and I'm very
confident we can push him all the way to the end of year, and
hopefully just nick the title for the Thompson Garages team.'
James and Rob will
next be in action on the all tarmac Jim Clark Memorial Rally. The
Scottish event will be the first all tarmac outing for the Suzuki
Ignis 1400 and the team this season, and James is already looking
forward to the new challenges the high grip surface will bring.
Jamie Edwards
19/06/2005
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