Taylor and Bielby forced to retire at Mid Wales Rally

12:49pm Friday 4th July 2008

WITH very few local crews in action last weekend, results were a little thin on the ground but a few competitors did venture to Newtown for the Mid Wales Stages Rally.

Contesting round four of the 2008 British Historic Rally Championship was Morton on Swale driver Charlie Taylor, who had entered his Ford Escort Mk II along with co-driver Steve Bielby, from Pickering, but unfortunately, after putting in some good times on the first three stages, they retired before the end of the fourth stage.

Competing in the modern category of the multi-venue rally was Moulton driver Simon Cole and co-driver Ian Jackson of Hartburn. The pair had a steady day and brought their BMW 325i home to finish 55th overall and tenth in class. Stockton driver Andy Davison was also in action in his BMW 325i along with co-driver Mike Curry, but they suffered problems and retired.

Now that Guisborough's Dennis Hobbs has been ruled out for the season due to the injury he sustained at Thruxton back in April and Middlesbrough's Paul Veazey having recently parted company with his Astro Kawasaki team, it was left to Hartburn teenager Jamie Ferguson to uphold local honour at the British Superbike Championship meeting at Mallory Park last weekend.

Aboard the 125cc Banks Racing Honda, Ferguson qualified on the penultimate row of the grid for both races and was hopeful of improving during the races, but a crash during the morning warm-up session dented his hopes and as a result, he followed up a 25th place finish in the opening race with a 28th in race two.

The Teesside-based Hydrex Bike Animal Honda British Superbike Team fared a little better with rider James Ellison scoring a fifth and 11th placed finish on the Shaun Muir Racing Honda Fireblade with teammate Guy Martin clinching the Airwaves Kick It Up A Gear award for best improver in race two in 14th place.

For the first time in their history, Britain's two biggest Rallycross Championships converge on Croft Circuit this Sunday when the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship and the Hi Spec Rallycross Open Championship will be contested as part of the Best of British Rallycross meeting.

Organised by PSM Motorsport, 120 drivers in all sorts of exotic and powerful cars will be in action throughout the day and with both championships evenly poised, the scene is set for a great day of action on the UK's fastest track.

In the British Rallycross Championship, just three points separate reigning champion, London-based Irishman Ollie O'Donovan from closest challenger Steve Hill, from Aylesbury, as the seven-event series reaches its halfway point.

O'Donovan started the defence of his title by winning the first two rounds with his ex Will Gollop Peugeot 306, but Hill was able to close to within striking distance of the championship leader after guiding his Mitsubishi Lancer E9 to victory in round three where O'Donovan finished fifth.

With the now-retired Dermot Carnegie not in action, his absence effectively elevates Ulsterman Lawrence Gibson in his iconic MG Metro 6R4, while 21-year-old Liam Doran is proving the surprise package of 2008 and should be a front runner once again in his Ford RS200.

In the SuperModified category for two-wheel drive cars, Dave Bellerby, from nearby Northallerton, is the defending champion in his Lotus Exige and still in with a chance of securing a hat-trick of titles.

Bellerby currently lies eighth in class having scored points in only one round so far.

One of his rivals in the Super- Modified class is Jarrow motorsport engineer Michael Boak who also missed the first round of the 2008 championship. Second place in round two and seventh in round three put Boak's unique Audi TT into the championship frame ahead of his local event at Croft.

In the Stock Hatch category, teenage drivers Joe Cunningham, from Leeming, and York's Russell Simpson will hope that local knowledge will help them to get on level terms with championship class leader Julian Godfrey, from Heathfield, and current champion Tony Lynch, from Wigan.

The Bill Gwynne Rally School Junior Rallycross Championship and Chris Birkbeck Rally School Junior Rallycross classes showcase the stars of the future as the best 14-16-year-old racers lay the foundations for racing and rallying careers. The Bill Gwynne series is led by Daniel O'Brien from Milton Keynes who is just eight points ahead of Brackley lass Jesse Gwynne.

Conor Flynn, from Belper, heads the Chris Birkbeck Championship after a recent good run.

There is local interest in these classes as well as Matt Thompson, from Ingleton, seeks to improve on recent results and Harrogate-based Keifer Hudson and Kelly Bird, from Stokesley, also aim to impress at their local track.

After four rounds of the Rallycross Open Championship, defending champion, Mark Watson, from nearby Barnard Castle, has opened up a 16- point lead over Welshman Mike Manning (Ford Puma), following two consecutive victories.

On home territory, the Citroen Xsara WRC driver will be hoping to emulate his English Masters victory earlier in the year, but with a strong 11-car Division 1 entry, the hotelier will have his work cut out.

David Binks, from Gosforth, has rebuilt the engine in his MSR Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and could be a good bet to take his first Division 1 victory, whereas Irishman Eddie Kinirons returns with his Ford Focus after clutch failure put him out of the event at Pembrey. Ferryhill driver Tony Bell has a rebuilt engine to try and get his season back on track in the stunning Toyota Corolla WRC after recent problems.

Welsh teenager Ben Power heads the Super National class in his Ford Ka from Hereford's Mike Turpin in his unique Vauxhall VX220, whereas Sunderland driver Hal Ridge leads the Division 1A class in his Peugeot.

In the Procar 2000 category, Ashley Simpson, from York, has doubled his Championship lead to two points ahead of Londoner Stuart Emery (Peugeot 306) and Scotsman Kenny Hall leads the Procar 1600cc class ahead of another local driver, Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick.

Andy Lee and Shelley Wakeling resume their battle in the Minicross Championship along with Ferryhill's David Bell and a full house of Revivals competitors return to action at Croft led by Borrowby farmer Brian Thornton in his ex-works BL Metro.

Croft instructor John Pinkney, from Moulton, hopes for a strong showing from his Triumph GT6, which has had recent work done to it and is the oldest car still in active competition, and Northallerton shopkeeper Darren Grimston gives a debut to his recently-acquired Peugeot 205 in the Stock Hatch class on both days.

There is a mouth-watering prospect in store for the final race of the day which will be the Best of British Rallycross Showdown race. This will see the top five drivers from the Rallycross Open Championship Division 1 A Final go head to head with the top five drivers from the British Rallycross Championship Supercar A Final.

The action gets under way at 9.30am with adult admission costing £10 per person and accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free.

* Any motorsport news? Email larry@cartersport.com.