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Telford Winter Stages
Telford Auto Club
18th February 2006
Clerk of the Course: Kevin Hutchings
Stages: 8 (44.8 Stage Miles)
Venue: Sweet Lamb & Hafren
Starters: 57
Winners: Stuart Jones/James Attwood (Mitsubishi Lancer E8)
The Telford Winter Stages received a visitation from the senior editorial staff of Motorsport News, with National Editor James Attwood making his rally debut in the navigator's seat alongside WRC aspirant Stuart Jones in a Mitsubishi Lancer E8. Meanwhile MN Editor Jim Holder was partnering Stuart's father, 'Mad' Mick Jones, in his Ford Escort.
The top seeds were Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery, who were using the event as a test session; they were trying out new coils and also using a paddle shift for the first time on the Hyundai Accent WRC.
The event was based at Sweet Lamb, but included visits to the Hafren Forest, giving just under 41 stage miles, split into 8 stages. Service was available in the RAC Car Park after SS2, SS4 and SS6.
The first stage ran either side of the main track into Sweet Lamb, finishing with a transit of the tarmac section. SS2 started at Eisteddford Gurig and, after a visit to the Sweet Lamb arena, went into Hafren. A long neutral section through Old Hall brought the cars back to the first service. SS3 and SS4 were a repeat of the opening two stages.
Dodd/Bargery were troubled by a misfire throughout SS1 and SS2. This was traced to the port injector filling the engine with water, the problem was cured at Service. These early problems allowed Jones/Attwood to take fastest time on the two tests and they arrived at the halt with a ten second lead over Dodd/Bargery. However, Attwood was struggling in his unfamiliar role and floundered with the pace notes; it was decided that Jones would drive 'blind' for the remainder of the event, although, thanks to testing, the driver was well acquainted with the venue.
With the misfire cleared, Dodd/Bargery were fastest on SS3, they cut their deficit to the leaders by two seconds, but the engine malfunction reappeared on SS4 and they lost another five seconds to Jones.
The final four stages were entirely within the Sweet Lamb Complex, starting besides the Service Area and finishing at Eisteddford Gurig. Again, SS7 and SS8 were a repeat of SS5 and SS6.
With a fully functioning engine Dodd/Bargery were fastest on SS5, SS6 and SS7; with one stage to go this put them in the lead, six seconds ahead of Jones. However, the Hyundai suffered a puncture on the last test and the crew decided not to book in at the final control. This gave Jones his first overall win.
Seeded at No.3, Nick Kenny/Darren Garrod (Subaru Impreza) had hoped to challenge for the victory, and, indeed, they had matched Dodd's second quickest time on SS1, but a 'big moment' on a SS2 hairpin cost them a few seconds and then a puncture on SS3 put them out of contention for the overall win. They spent the rest of the event testing a new WRC exhaust system. They finished in second place, a minute and a half behind Jones. The podium was completed by Owain Beman/Den Golding who had a drama free day.
There was a three-way battle for the top rear wheel drive honours. 'Mad' Mick Jones/Jim Holder (Ford Escort) won the fight; they had been slowed by a broken exhaust and the loss of second gear, but came through to finish in fourth place overall. After SS6 Geraint Mills/Jonny 'Tad' Evans (Opel Manta) were their nearest challengers, but a broken rear axle on SS7 put the local crew out. Richard Edwards/Di Brookfield (Ford Escort) had been troubled initially by a stuttering engine and then by rear suspension problems, but succeeded in taking the Class 5 win and fifth overall.
Simon Hughes/Jamie Edwards were using their Ford Fiesta ST150 on gravel for the first time, after one outing on Epynt; they completed a successful test in sixth place. One place ahead of Andy Williams/Peter White (Subaru Impreza) who had the exhaust sensor come off on SS5. Eighth placed Phil Burton/Mick Fellows (Ford Escort) were disappointed with the torque of their newly re-built engine.
Class 3 was won by the Peugeot 106 GTi of Carwyn Harries/Gareth 'Jaffa' Roberts, although they holed the radiator on SS8 and had the gearbox failing as they reached the finish line. Meanwhile, Martyn Lewis/Richard Lewis (Vauxhall Nova) led home the Class 2 contenders, they'd taken off the rear anti-roll bar to improve the car's handling. Mark Gamble/George Gwyn (Peugeot 106) had been quickest in the class on SS1, but went out with a failed engine on SS3.
Phil McVey/Stuart Powell (Subaru Impreza) had been quick in the early stages, but then had the exhaust manifold break on SS3, the engine lost turbo pressure and they were out. Alex Taylor/Chris Short (Subaru Impreza) were in fourth place when gearbox failure stopped the car on SS3.
OVERALL RESULTS
| Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
| 1 | Stuart Jones | James Attwood | Mitsubishi Lancer E9 | 48m 49s | |
| 2 | Nick Kenny | Darren Garrod | Subaru Impreza | 50m 31s | |
| 3 | Owain Beman | Den Golding | Mitsubishi Lancer E6 | 50m 52s | |
| 4 | 'Mad' Mick Jones | Jim Holder | Ford Escort | 53m 18s | |
| 5 | Richard Edwards | Dianne Brookfield | Ford Escort | 53m 35s | |
| 6 | Simon Hughes | Jamie Edwards | Ford Fiesta ST150 | 53m 45s | |
| 7 | Andy Williams | Peter White | Subaru Impreza | 53m 48s | |
| 8 | Phil Burton | Mick Fallows | Ford Escort | 53m 51s | |
| 9 | Dennis Parry | Mathew Parry | Subaru Impreza | 53m 55s | |
| 10 | Alun 'Mooney' Jones | Aled Jones | Ford Escort | 55m 14s | |
| 11 | David Lloyd Roberts | Dei Jones | Ford Escort | 55m 41s | |
| 12 | Andrew Roberts | Allan Roberts | Ford Escort | 55m 41s | |
| 13 | Jason Nash | Peter Nash | Ford Escort | 55m 55s | |
| 14 | Carwyn Harries | Gareth 'Jaffa' Roberts | Peugeot 106 GTi | 56m 10s | |
| 15 | Scott Bennett | James Bennett | Mitsubishi Lancer E6 | 56m 28s | |
| 16 | Mandy Bowman | Kenneth Bowman | Mitsubishi Lancer E5 | 56m 36s | |
| 17 | Mark Kennedy | Joe Cullan | Opel Corsa | 56m 42s | |
| 18 | Mike Roberts | Dai Roberts | Peugeot 205 GTi | 56m 42s | |
| 19 | Graham Davies | Gary Powell | Talbot Sunbeam | 56m 44s | |
| 20 | Huw Jeffreys | Avarina Connor | Subaru Impreza | 57m 12s | |
| 21 | Richard Roberts | Richard Smalley | Peugeot 205 GTi | 58m 07s | |
| 22 | Simon Wallis | Ian Beveridge | Ford Escort RS2000 | 58m 13s | |
| 23 | Tommi Walster | Andrew Sankey | Ford Fiesta ST150 | 58m 17s | |
| 24 | Micah Morris | Simon Anthony | Peugeot 309 GTi | 58m 52s | |
| 25 | John Evans | Neil Featherstone | Ford Escort | 59m 23s | |
| 26 | Jason Pritchard | Paul Cook | Peugeot 106 Maxi | 59m 31s | |
| 27 | Martyn Lewis | Richard Lewis | Vauxhall Nova | 59m 32s | |
| 28 | Jim Ward | Jaime Brown | Rover 220 GSi | 60m 24s | |
| 29 | Matthew Edwards | Lee Harding | Vauxhall Astra | 60m 39s | |
| 30 | Kev Wilson | Alastair Roe | Talbot Sunbeam | 61m 08s | |
| 31 | Mike Nobles | Jayne Benfield | Vauxhall Astra GSi | 61m 09s | |
| 32 | Aled Williams | Mark Davies | Ford Escort | 61m 45s | |
| 33 | Steve McPhee | Craig Golder | Peugeot 205 GTi | 61m 53s | |
| 34 | Jonathan Harrison | Jonathan Jones | Toyota Celica GT4 | 62m 09s | |
| 35 | Wayne Bonser | Richard Aston | Ford Escort | 62m 18s | |
| 36 | Steve Ball | Ian Powell | Ford Escort | 63m 05s | |
| 37 | Tony Hutchings | Shaun Dale | Volkswagen Golf GTi | 63m 53s | |
| 38 | Gareth Webb | Chris Jones | Suzuki Swift GTi | 66m 21s | |
| 39 | Mike Smith | Guy Gladwin | Fiat Uno | 66m 47s | |
| 40 | Paul Cunningham | Nicola Parker | Peugeot 205 XS | 70m 27s | |
| 41 | Mike Jeffs | Richard Walker | Peugeot 205 GTi | 72m 04s |