Derrygonnelly youngster, Kris Farrell, continued his steep learning curve this weekend when he travelled to the seaside town of Minehead for round three of the BTRDA Forest Rally Series, The Somerset Stages Rally.
Competing for his first time on the event, Kris’ plan for a good run were underway when he set 10th quickest time through the opening 1.3 mile loop of Timberscombe. SS2, the longest stage of the rally at 9.7 miles, saw Kris put in a blinding performance – ensuring his Weaver Motorsport run S1400 Proton Satria an incredible 6th fastest time.
Aerospace Engineering student, Kris, and stand in co-driver Andy Ballantyne, a late replacement for usual co-driver Tudor Jenkins, had to contend with a change of surface for two stages in the middle of the day, running up the well known 3.7 mile Porlock Toll Road twice. Having contested the Hankook Northern Ireland Rally Championship in 2010, the pair were no strangers to Tarmac, and despite a cautious approach to the first run, were still hotly on the pace for the 2nd run.
A return back to the gravel and a repeat of the morning’s stages, with some of them reversed, provided the next challenge for Kris and his Solo Petroleum and Calor Gas backed Proton. With a consistent drive throughout he bought the car home a solid 8th Overall in the Millers Oils 1400 Championship.
Kris is planning on contesting the whole BTRDA Forest Rally Series this year but will have to run on an event-by-event basis, with budgets, as always, a struggle.
“I’ve loved the last few rounds of the BTRDA and having little experience on gravel I’m happy with my progress. The Somerset Stages were great – very fast and technical plus it gave me the chance to get the car on to the Tarmac up Porlock. I can’t wait now for the Plains Rally in a month’s time.”
Kris is currently lying 4th in the Millers Oils 1400 Championship and will be returning to the forests of North Wales for the Welshpool based SJR Plains Rally on the 14th May. You can follow Kris’ progress at www.krisfarrell.com.
– Credit: RallySport Media.