Story: Staff Writer
Picture: Kumho Tyre UK / Newspress
Damian Cole/Craig Drew took their Ford Focus WRC to a well-deserved 13,3sec victory in the Jim Clark National Rally of 28 – 29 May.
Matters could have been very different though, as the pair were lying in last place at the end of the first stage due to gear selection problems. Unable to change down with the Focus’ wheel-mounted paddleshift, Cole was initially forced to negotiate even the tightest of chicanes in sixth gear. Happily, a close inspection of the system revealed that he could make the changes with the car’s sequential lever instead. However, that meant using the clutch, which in turn required him to brake with his right foot – something he had never before done with the Focus. Said Cole: “I basically had to work out a whole new way of driving.”
He managed it though, and by the end of the first leg he had worked his way up to 12th place – be it 55,9sec behind the then leaders, Andy Fenwick/Lee Tindall (Subaru Impreza WRC). By the following morning, Cole’s gearchange appeared to be fully operational and he took 4,2sec out of Fenwick on the first stage. Despite the gremlins then returning, Cole managed to maintain his relentless climb back up the field, taking the lead soon after the Subaru crew retired with brake problems.
Commenting on the finale, Cole said: “It was very slippery on the last two stages. I just had to push as hard as I could.”
Said Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson, “We were impressed with the way Damian worked around his rally-long gear problems to secure this excellent victory, which furthers our impressive record on this great event – last year Kumho-shod cars won both the National and International categories.”
