Unless otherwise clearly indicated, results on this site have been declared final and are therefore not subject to query or protest
Clerk of the Course: Adrian Gladwin
Route: 140 Miles
Map: 143, 144, 154 & 155
Starters: 50
Photographs: M&H Photography
Winners: Steve Webster/Roger Hage (Subaru Impreza)
Chelmsford MC’s Preston Rally is now a legendary event in southern England. Based in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire the event makes use of the tracks, both public and private, that abound in those two counties. The 2001 event had 110 miles of competitive motoring, of which 85 miles were on unsurfaced tracks.
Unlike other southern road rallies route definition is straightforward, competitors are issued with road books containing high quality photocopied maps of the enitre route. The event started in 1978 and has had the same sponsor, Preston Garages of Chelmsford, since its first running. Any profits from the rally are donated to the East Anglian Air Ambulance service.
The Preston is a very popular event, its 50 car entry is always oversubscribed, in fact the eventual winners, Steve Webster/Roger Hage, were one of the crews on this year’s reserve list.
Only the withdrawal of previous Preston winners Mike Biss/Cath Woodman allowed them a start. The pair, competing in a Subaru Impreza, started the rally cautiously but went to the front of the field at about third distance. By the petrol halt they’d established a thirty second lead, this was extended to over two minutes at the Finish.
Having led initially Andy Baker/Lee Burgess took second place in their Peugoet 205. There was a close battle for third place, with Martin Smith/Martin Fowle taking the position from Martin Self/Paul Barrett on the very last section.
Amongst the leading runners who failed to make it to the finish were Dick Archer/Tim Ball, Steve Pashley/Richard Pashley and Steve Massey/Steve Copland.
The Semi-Expert class was won by the Ford Escort of Martin Betts/Mick Fern, who were 14th overall. The Novice award went to Alan Pemberton/Chris Robinson who were competing in an Audi Quattro. Jamie Turner, on his fifth attempt, finally made the Finish of the Preston, albeit in 35th and last place.
Top seeds Pete Gabitiss/Alan Ogden had a difficult night ending the Preston in 32nd place. Meanwhile the Hillman Imp of Owen Turner/Andrew Dadswell finished in sixth place for the second year in succession
OVERALL RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Steve Webster | Roger Hage | Subaru Impreza | 18m 10s | |
2 | Andy Baker | Lee Burgess | Peugeot 205 GTi | 20m 21s | |
3 | Martin Smith | Matthew Fowle | Toyota Corolla | 22m 25s | |
4 | Martin Self | Paul Barrett | Subaru Legacy | 22m 35s | |
5 | John Haden | Charlie Wheeldon | Subaru Impreza | 27m 03s | |
6 | Owen Turner | Andrew Dadswell | Hillman Imp | 29m 05s | |
7 | Tim Grant | Mark Goodman | Audi Quattro | 31m 32s | |
8 | Doug Kingsley | Ben Greenwood | Vauxhall Nova GTE | 35m 27s | |
9 | Dave Quinney | Gary Evans | Peugeot 205 GTi | 40m 25s | |
10 | Naftali Ayieko | Glyn Williams | Peugeot 106 Rallye | 42m 38s | |
11 | Jeremy Rodgers | Mark Fearon | MG Maestro | 43m 23s | |
12 | Neil Parsons | Simon Tebbutt | Peugeot 106 Rallye | 43m 39s | |
13 | Rob Reynolds | Allan Collyer | Vauxhall Nova SRi | 44m 17s | |
14 | Martin Betts | Mick Fern | Ford Escort | 44m 54s | |
15 | John Parsons | Brian Jaggs | VW Golf GTi | 49m 53s | |
16 | Clive Baty | Ray Crowther | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo | 64m 57s | |
17 | Graham Child | Kevin Ablitt | Ford Escort | 88m 21s | |
18 | Alan Pemberton | Chris Robinson | Audi Quattro | 92m 59s | |
19 | Dave Leadbetter | Matthew Endean | Skoda Estelle | 95m 10s | |
20 | Richard Atherton | Chris Bowden | MG Maestro | 97m 53s | |
21 | Ian Perry | Ian Orford | Citroen AX | 103m 12s | |
22 | Paul Wright | Brian Otridge | Ford Sierra | 1F 62m 39s | |
23 | Nigel Dinsdale | Brian Marquis | Ford Escort | 1F 66m 53s | |
24 | Paul Dutton | Gerry Fordham | Ford Sierra | 1F 83m 46s | |
25 | Richard Oxley | Mark Slatcher | Vauxhall Nova | 1F 90m 55s | |
26 | Mark Ingram | Kathy Smith | Peugeot 309 | 2F 57m 08s | |
27 | Joseph Ivey | Mick Porter | BL Mini | 2F 82m 00s | |
28 | Ben Clay | Jim Clay | Peugeot 205 GTi | 2F 122m 46s | |
29 | Mark Banham | Paul Haycock | Vauxhall Nova | 5F 87m 36s | |
30 | Steve Monk | John Hall | Toyota Corolla | 6F 49m 31s | |
31 | Peter Banham | Simon Banham | Mercedes 250SE | 8F 68m 28s | |
32 | Peter Gabitiss | Alan Ogden | VW Golf GTi | 11F 36m 47s | |
33 | Richard Bardbury | Andrew Mason | Peugeot 205 GTi | 14F 44m 32s | |
34 | Michael Brookes | Wayne Larbalestier | Peugeot 205 GTi | 16F 89m 50s | |
35 | Jamie Turner | Graham Raeburn | MG Maestro | 20F 23m 40s |