It seems like just yesterday that the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship was shoulder to shoulder with over ten thousand spectators at the start of its opening round, Rally Sunseeker in late February.
Because of the hectic early championship schedule it may not be yesterday, but only thirteen weeks cover the first four rounds of the series, a real test of commitment for the crews to contend with. But it is the excellent mix of events’ length, nature, surface and location that continues to make the British Rally Championship the place to be, attracting crews from all over the World for over fifty years.
The Jim Clark International Rally marks the half way point of the season and the first of three events on asphalt. The high hedges, fast straights and tight corners of the low lying stages contrast starkly with the moorland Abbey St Bathans test where the rally can be won or lost. But the overriding question on everyone’s lips during rally weekend will be, as ever, will it rain?
The ribbons of sealed surface asphalt that separate neat and beautiful farmland are a real chance for crews to test their mettle, but frequent and heavy rain showers from scudding clouds regularly punctuate the rally, making the roads more treacherous than the forest gravel.
The four wheel drive cars are back at the front of the field after tailing the two wheel drivers on the first three gravel events. The move was intended to not only give them a little more profile ahead of the move to 2WD in 2012, but also to even the wear to the forest tracks, something that isn’t necessary on asphalt.
Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship:
Despite the continued influx of talent from overseas, it is a Scottish crew that sits atop the overall Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship points table, David Bogie and Kevin Rae taking two wins from three events in their Mitsubishi Evo 9. Their dominance on the most recent event, the Pirelli Rally in April, meant they led from start to finish, only bettered on three of the twelve stages. They not only lead the BRC, but they are clear leaders of the Scottish Rally Championship too, hoping to do well on the Jim Clark International and Reivers Rallies during this multi-counter event.
2010 Pirelli Star Driver and Fiesta SportTrophy champion Elfyn Evans began his prize-drive year extremely well. The young Welshman took the podium on his and co-driver Kevin Rae’s Impreza debut, the pair going on to wow their home crowd with a measured and mature victory on round two in Wales. A puncture on the Pirelli, when they were just thirteen seconds adrift of Bogie, knocked some of the wind from their sails, but they hung on despite suspension damage and climbed to fourth at the finish.
Championship leaders for much of 2010 Jonny Greer and Dai Roberts have had a steep learning curve with their new steed in 2011. The Super 2000 Škoda Fabia promised much, but the Ulsterman struggled to get to grips with the screaming beast in the south of England. By Bulldog Rally North Wales it was clear that there was more to come when they took fourth, but their adjustment to the vagaries of the car showed with a podium on round three, posting a very handy second fastest time on one of the quickest stages of the event.
By his own admission it is consistency that has put Tom Clark and co-driver Alistair Wylie fourth in the overall points table. Turning eighteen just two weeks before the Jim Clark Rally, the Englishman has made a huge transition to his Impreza from a much less powerful Suzuki, learning both car and rallies. But Jim Clark was the scene of his BRC debut last year, so from here on in, he has at least had experience of the events and can concentrate on honing his four wheel drive skills.
Adam Gould was re-united with Seb Marshall at the start of the season, but a new car meant new challenges and despite popping-in a pair of fastest times on Rallye Sunseeker and leading the Bulldog, car set-up dropped them to third in Wales. Any hope of dispelling his Pirelli Rally jinx then disappeared on Friday’s very first stage when he clipped a rock and broke the rear suspension – game over!
Like Greer, Robert Barrable has a new Fabia and like Greer he has taken a while to get used to it. But missing the second round of the 2011 BRC, when a pre-event test warm-up caused the engine to fail, wasn’t part of the plan. However he and Damien Connolly went some way to redressing the DNS with an excellent second place last time out. With the prospect of asphalt, the Irishman has to be itching to get to Kelso and show what the car can do.
By comparison to his 2010 performance, Welsh youngster Jason Pritchard has had a very trying season to date. A 100% finishing record and a podium on the Isle of Man put him third in last year’s tables with only BRC champions ahead, but an annoying slip into a ditch on round one and ill health on round two left him well adrift of the top. The Pirelli was frustrating too, a roll on stage eight ruining what had been an excellent result in prospect. He and new co-driver Ryland James did end the event on a high though, posting a trio of third fastest times despite their damaged Impreza.
Tom Cave had a fantastic Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship debut in Bournemouth, battling all day with David Bogie but displaying maturity beyond his years to settle for second. Sadly his second BRC event ended against an immovable Welsh tree, the crew sliding off the road near the end of the first test. The plan to bounce back on the Pirelli came to nought though, puncturing after a sensible start, they were forced to retire with the resultant suspension damage to great to continue.
Daniel Barry and Alan Carmichael are both Mitsubishi men, both with just one score apiece. Barry’s change from Evo 10 back to familiar Evo 9 should have been like putting on comfy old slippers, but mechanical problems robbed him of any chance of proving his pace. Carmichael opted not to contest the Pirelli, but he returns to his favoured asphalt here in the Borders.
Last of the four wheel drive runners in the points table, but by no means least, is local lad Euan Thorburn. He and Paul Beaton have two retirements from two starts; the first was caused by a melted piston in their Mitsubishi, the second by a rear suspension strut that burst its way into the car. However they will relish the chance to push hard here, particularly on the Duns stage that runs quite literally past Euan’s house.
Jim Clark International Rally:
The Scottish Borders’ Jim Clark Rally is based in Kelso, but the start and finish take place in the centre of Jim’s hometown from the age of six, Duns. The ceremonial start and Mantis Instant Shine street stage take over the whole of the centre of Duns, kicking off with an autograph session in the Market Square at 17.30, the stage running at 19.00 and 21.30.
With 43 of the event’s 140 stage miles completed on Friday evening, the remaining ten stages loop around the Kelso service area, finishing with champagne back in Duns just after 18.00 on Saturday.
– Credit: www.rallybrc.co.uk.