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: Kevin Hutchings
Stages: 12 (48 Stage Miles)
Venue: Sweet Lamb
Starters: 42
Winners: Graham Middleton/John Morgan (Toyota Corolla WRC)
Graham Middleton/John Morgan took their newly acquired Toyota Corolla WRC to a comfortable victory on the Advanced Windows Winter Stages. The Telford AC event used 12 stages, totalling 48 miles, in the Sweet Lamb Complex.
Middleton had hoped to use the event as a test in preparation for the Sunseeker Rally, but newly acquired suspension proved to be unsuitable and a cure had not been found to the problem that prevented full turbo boost being run. The Corolla therefore appeared with the same set up as used on the Wyedean. However the day was a success as the Kuhmo Tyres backed car came home over a minute clear of the field.
Second place was taken by Nigel Griffiths/Tamara Early who were having their first run in a Subaru Impreza, their only problem during the day being a puncture which cost them twenty seconds on SS8. Despite a misfire, which was cleared by a plug change, Mick Gilman/Nigel Bayley had a clear run to third in their Escort Cosworth.
A number of Peugeot 106 drivers used the event as a test session and the fastest amongst these was Garry Jennings who, partnered by David Moynahan, took eighth overall and the Class 2 win. Rory Galligan had converted his Championship winning 106 to left hand drive to help acclimatise himself to the set up of his works car. Despite clutch problems and a couple of offs, he finished eleventh overall.
Robert Gough/Craig Parry were only one place further back in their 106. Glyn Jones’ son Gareth made his rally debut in a Geoff Jones prepared 106. Guided by the vastly experienced Ryland James he brought the car home in a creditable thirteenth place.
A visit to a ditch on SS10, which cost him 30 seconds, didn’t prevent Craig Middleton from the taking the Class 3 award in his Hyundai Coupe. He was another driver testing for the coming season, in this case his assault on the Kuhmo Tyres Championship.
Class 1 went to James Wozencroft/Dave Wozencroft, who finished nineteenth overall on only the driver’s second rally.
Of the 42 starters, 29 made it to the Finish. Among those who retired were:
Vin Hughes (clutch)
Tom Duxbury (diff)
Shawn Woodhouse (blown turbo)
Cyril Crook (sheered wheel)
Hugh Geraint Jones (drive shaft)
Ralph Abel (gearbox)
Aron Brown (sheered wheel)
Duncan Goldsmith (broken steering)
Jody Oliver (gearbox)
Fin McCaul (broken rotor arm)
Glyn Newell (engine)
Geno Cook (accident)
A Trophy Rally was run for those entrants who had retired in the early sections, this used the last four stages of the main event. It was won by Keith Parry/Martyn Quant who had put their Nova off the road on SS4, the car had been undamaged but they had been unable to regain the road without the aid of a winch.
Darren Edwards/Johnny Evans had a difficult time on their way to sixteenth overall. They broke a rear strut on their Sunbeam on the first loop of stages, the car also developed a misfire. The misfire was finally cleared by a change of plugs; the broken strut by heavy welding. A throttle cable then broke as they reached the Flying Finish of SS6 and the co-driver had to sit on the bonnet operating the throttle for the short run into service. On the following loop they lost oil pressure which was finally traced to a leak under the engine.
OVERALL RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Graham Middleton | John Morgan | Toyota Corolla WRC | 1h 05m 19s | |
2 | Nigel Griffiths | Tamara Early | Subaru Impreza | 1h 06m 41s | |
3 | Mick Gilman | Jason Dolman | Ford Escort Cosworth | 1h 07m 43s | |
4 | Andrew Kenny | Gary Kenny | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo3 | 1h 08m 41s | |
5 | Andrew Haddon | Mark Andrews | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo4 | 1h 08m 51s | |
6 | Martin Payton | Laurie Walker | Ford Escort Cosworth | 1h 09m 01s | |
7 | Craig Middleton | Nathan Parry | Hyundai Coupe | 1h 09m 06s | |
8 | Garry Jennings | David Moynahan | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1h 09m 10s | |
9 | Martin Kenny | Maurice Leach | Ford Escort | 1h 09m 56s | |
10 | Trevor Yoxall | Keith Wain | Ford Sierra Cosworth | 1h 10m 08s | |
11 | Rory Galligan | Gordon Noble | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1h 10m 09s | |
12 | Robert Gough | Craig Parry | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1h 11m 31s | |
13 | Gareth Jones | Ryland James | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1h 11m 47s | |
14 | Shaun Gallagher | Richard Pashley | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1h 12m 30s | |
15 | Mark Cheetham | Kiaran Hankin | Ford Escort | 1h 12m 49s | |
16 | Darren Edwards | Johnny 'Tad' Evans | Talbot Sunbeam | 1h 13m 32s | |
17 | Mark Rowlands | Brynmor Pierce | Ford Escort | 1h 13m 59s | |
18 | Will Onions | Steve Quine | Ford Escort Maxi Kit Car | 1h 14m 06s | |
19 | James Wozencroft | David Wozencroft | Vauxhall Nova | 1h 14m 26s | |
20 | Graham Davies | Gary Powell | Talbot Sunbeam | 1h 14m 52s | |
21 | Steve Bayley | Andy Cobley | Vauxhall Nova | 1h 15m 57s | |
22 | Sean Bannister | Terry Bannister | Peugeot 306 | 1h 16m 39s | |
23 | Chris Gittins | Stuart Humphreys | Ford Escort | 1h 17m 20s | |
24 | Andrew Browne | Keefe Kilkoyle | Peugeot 205 | 1h 17m 28s | |
25 | Chris Metcalfe | Pete Swan | Ford Escort | 1h 17m 46s | |
26 | Richard Naylor | Kevin Watts | Ford Escort RS1800 | 1h 17m 59s | |
27 | Philip Atkins | Paul Atkins | Ford Escort | 1h 22m 54s | |
28 | Tim Consolante | Duane Sismore | Ford Escort | 1h 25m 44s | |
29 | Pete Hamer | Niki Griffiths | Talbot Sunbeam | 1h 26m 29s |