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Rowe/Fagg
out of luck in China
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Former
Production World Champion Martin Rowe and his co-driver Rob Fagg
from Port Erin had a disappointing end to their Chinese adventures
this year, when mechanical damage forced them into retirement while
lying in third position on the final day of the Shaoguan City Rally
on Monda
y
The pair were contesting the rally in a bid to secure the teams
trophy in the Chinese National Rally Championship for KST Ralliart
Mitsubishi, as although Martin has been the leading driver
throughout the series overseas entries aren’t eligible for the
driver and co-driver titles.
The three day event started on Saturday afternoon with just one
short stage, a 3.6km spectator test, and from their start number of
4 Rowe and Fagg powered their Mitsubishi Evo 8 to eighth fastest.
That improved almost immediately the following morning at the start
of a 6-stage day, featuring four tests of over 20 kilometres in
length. By the end of them they had climbed to fourth place, only 15
seconds behind
Australia
’s Simon Evans (Evo
8) in second. That was despite problems with the suspension set-up.
‘Today’s stages were very twisty and technical with very few
straights in them’, Fagg commented upon climbing out of the car at
parc ferme.
'The timing
of the notes has been crucial to keep a momentum going. The first
stage of the day was run in cool conditions but as the day
progressed the heat rose in the car and it really shows where
fitness counts, but we’ve stayed in touch for the 2nd place battle
so it’s a good days work.’
The
event was also the final round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally
Championship, and new
champion Jussi Valamaki from
Finland
was over a minute
ahead in his
Evo 8,
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having
set fastest time on every stage. Undeterred the KST team planned to
drive as hard as possible on the final day in a bid to put some
pressure on those ahead of them.
A further
six rougher tests completed the event on Monday, mainly made up of
hard packed mud and Rowe reverted back to suspension from the
previous event in the hope of finding a better setup.
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Martin Rowe and Rob Fagg
competing in China Rally Shaoguan
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They
immediately moved up a place when third-placed Japanese driver Hiroshi
Yanagisawa (Subaru Impreza)
checked in early by one minute to the first control of the
morning, and the replaced suspension worked well over the bumpy
hard stages.
However
on the first of the final loop of 3 stages the Mitsubishi picked
up a stone on the entry to a water crossing, causing radiator
damage. The temperature rose to a point where the crew had to stop
and discovered that all the water in the radiator had been lost,
putting them out of the event.
‘It’s really disappointing’, reflected Rob at the finish.
‘The car felt really good today and the Michelin tyres were
working well in the conditions. The KST Ralliart Rally Team did
there best for us and we gave all we could but in the end we were
out due to a small, slow crossing’.
Rob is supported in 2005 by the Isle of Man Sports Council, Manx
Motorsport Youth Trust, Isle of Man Bank Scholarship, Integrated
Capabilities, Rob and Ali Graham and www.Mexperience.com.
In addition he particularly wishes to thank Manx Telecom for
giving him leave at such short notice to make the trip possible.
Nearing the end of another hectic year of competition around the
world, Rob is already in the process of planning for next year,
and further details will hopefully be confirmed shortly.
Chris Boyde
29/11/2005
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