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Rob completes BRC Hat-trick
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Isle of Man Sports
Aid recipient Rob Fagg completed
a hat-trick of wins at the weekend, competing on the Scottish Stars
Rally alongside Shropshire rally star James Wozencroft, the pair
lead from start to finish to win by a margin of close to 4 minutes.
The Dumfries based event was the third round of the British Rally
Championship incorporating the Stars of the Future Series which Rob,
supported by local Manx company Integrated Capabilities and James
are contesting this year. After victories on the previous two
rounds, Wales and Pirelli Stars Rally's, the young duo were quietly
confident going into the event. This despite the arrival of BTRDA
rival Neil Weaver driving his recently purchased Vauxhall Corsa, who
was contesting his first Stars event and would prove to be the main
competition of the weekend.
James and Rob started strongly and established themselves a 80
second lead over the opening 18 mile Glentrool stage. With large
rocks in the road and high |
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probability of punctures on the event, James drove the Charlton Arms
(Ludlow) backed Team Thompson Suzuki Ingis smoothly, staying out of
trouble while his rivals seemed to hit it. Weaver would suffer a
double puncture and drop 7 minutes while Carwyn Harries (Peugeot
106) was struggling with gearbox problems but settles in second
place. The crews then proceeded onto the 4 mile Jenny's Hill stage
and with it James and Rob increased there lead by a
further 17 seconds over Harries, Weaver though |
Wozie and Rob leaving
the
Stars field in their dust |
just 1.5
seconds slower, the later though would retire at remote service with
gearbox problems.
Following a brief service where the crews may
only refuel and change tyres, they headed for a repeat of Glentrool
and Jenny's Hill. Despite their lead they knew that a puncture could
see them fall down the leaderboard and wit this they chose to |
lead in the overall championship. |
continue at their present pace. The lead was increased by 94 seconds
over those two stages to give them a three and a half minute cushion
over the Harries, who was driving with three gears (third up) and no
tank guard.
All that remained between Wozie and Rob was 6 miles of
Clatteringshaws and despite a moment on the stage they emerged again
fastest to make it a hat-trick of wins and give them an 8 point l |
"I can't believe it, to make it three in a row is fantastic for us
and the team. The guys at Thompson Suzuki have done a fantastic job
so far this season preparing the car. Rob is doing a superb job
alongside me and together with the team we are getting the results."
explained a jubilant Wozencroft at the finish off the event. "We
used a new Dunlop tyre this weekend on their advice and they have
worked really well in the conditions and stood up well to the pace.
We have had no punctures which seems to be a rare thing on this
event. Credit to Carwyn (Harries) though, he has had no tank guard
for the last three stages and only three gears, a gutsy
performance."
There is little time for the Team
to relax and reflect on the Scottish success as they are due to
renew their BTRDA Silkolene 1400 Championship challenge this weekend
on the Dukeries Forest Rally. After a hat-trick of wins on the
opening rounds of this championship they hope to get more points on
the board and close the gap to leader George Thomas.
Rob is supported in 2005 by the Isle of Man Sports Council,
Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Isle of Man Bank
Scholarship, Integrated Capabilities, Thompson
Garages, Manx Telecom,
Mexperience.com,
Patterson Pacenotes and Dunlop Tyres
Robert Fagg
Rallying
15/06/2005 |
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