London-based driver Andrew Barnes has won the Tuthill Porsche Challenge classification on the Severn Valley Historic Rally last weekend: a result that has moved him to the head of the driver rankings on the series: the only one-make rally championship for Porsche 911s in the world.
Barnes, co-driven by Guy Simmons, made consistent progress throughout the day’s eight all-gravel stages – many of which are used for Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship – to climb up the order. “It was good fun,” said Barnes. “I’m getting more used to the car now and we had a really solid run today. The stages are absolutely fantastic: it’s a real pleasure to drive on them. It’s been a great weekend and a great day out.”
The event also witnessed the return of Tuthill Porsche director Richard Tuthill to competition after a two-year break. Tuthill, who in the past was a frontrunner in both the British and American Rally Championships, led the Severn Valley Historic Rally overall in his 911 from the morning stages, fighting with the established championship frontrunners.
Tuthill was leading after setting two fastest times on the event but was forced to retire with just two stages to go after picking up two rear punctures.
“It was a pity we had to retire in that way, but I think we proved a point,” said Tuthill. “Our Porsches are capable of battling at the very front of the historic rally field, meaning that our drivers can be in a position to challenge for overall honours as well as the Porsche Challenge prizes. As I’ve not driven competitively for a couple of years the first few stages were a bit wild, but my co-driver Nick Beech did an excellent job and we were soon able to show the speed of the car.”
Porsche Challenge regular John Lloyd was forced to retire at midday service due to illness, while making her debut on the event was Brenda Sullivan: the wife of 1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan. She made excellent progress throughout the day to record a well-deserved finish in her Porsche 911. “I felt more and more confident as the rally went on,” said Sullivan. “These are really great cars to drive: the more you push them the more you get out of them.”
For a fully-inclusive cost of just £42,500, Tuthill Porsche Challenge competitors drive on five rounds of the British Historic Rally Championship in a 3.0-litre Porsche 911 with all expenses covered. The winner at the end of the year gets a fully-funded rally in the FIA European Historic Championship, with a spectating trip to the Safari Rally as second prize, and an ice-driving course in Norway as third prize.
The next round of the Tuthill Porsche Challenge is the Ulster Rally in Northern Ireland from 19 – 20 August.