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Last weekends Tour of Epynt did not provide the
start to the REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt
Championship that Manx rally co-driver Rob Fagg had
been hoping for. Competing on the Llandovery based
event with Blackburn’s John Stone in the Legend
Fires backed CA1 Sport prepared Skoda Fabia WRC, the
pair would be sidelined at first service with clutch
failure.
Despite their early exit, Stone and Synergy IT
supported Fagg managed to complete two of the events
seven tests over the welsh military ranges, although
the second hampered through the issue with the
clutch.
Crews were greeted in the morning with the same mist
which had been in attendance the previous day for
the stage reconnaissance and was raising some
concerns with the limited visibility.
This concern was to be unfounded as the opening test
got underway with bright skies which as the day
progressed would only get brighter and temperature
hotter.
Following a confidence inspiring reconnaissance the
previous day, John and Rob set off into the six
miler opener. Despite exercising a bit of caution
due to sections of the stage proving to be offering
less grip than others following the overnight cold
conditions, they would post a pleasing fifth fastest
time, 18 seconds of pace setter and 2011 series
champion Damian Cole in his Ford Focus WRC05 who was
eight quicker than
anyone else.
Unfortunately it was as they prepared to start the
11 mile second stage that their problems became
apparent. As launch control failed Stone and Fagg
crept off the start line and progressed through the
stage with a little bit of apprehension as thoughts
turned to what the problem could be. Completing the
stage tenth fastest and as a result dropping to
ninth overall it was obvious the clutch was not as
it should be.
On arrival at service the CA1 Sport team set about
tracing and resolving the issue but despite quickly
identifying the problem a resolution was not
available and it would be an early exit for John and
Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors backed Rob and not
the start they were looking for in the championship.
“We are both obviously very disappointed to be out
of the season opener so early” commented Rob, “We
had a good recce yesterday and using the notes from
last year we both had a good confidence coming into
today. But it’s one of those things and you have to
take away the positives that the car is in one piece
and felt good on the first stage.”
The Tour of Epynt would be won by former asphalt
champion Mel Evans and Aled Davies in their Subaru
Impreza S12b followed home by reigning champion Cole
(Ford Focus WRC) with Peter Lloyd (Subaru Impreza
S14) completing the podium.
The championship now takes a short break until the
second round at the start of May, when crews will
resume battle on Rob’s home event on the Isle of
Man, the Manx National Rally, and an event Rob is
looking forward to.
“May can not come quick enough for me, I am just
hoping for better luck on this years event after
failing to even make the start last year” Rob
explained, “I was due to compete with Stephen
Simpson in his Impreza WRC but unfortunately we
would experiencing an issue with the clutch on the
way to the start. Hopefully John and I will be able
to have better luck and get our championship
challenge out of the starting blocks.
With the REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt Championship
once again been covered for the Special Stage Review
programme which is broadcast on Motors TV and the
Manx offering local advertising, Rob would be keen
to hear from anyone who feels they can help him with
his costs of competing on his home round of the
championship, and contributing towards his season.
Anyone able to help can contact Rob by e-mail on
robert@robertfagg.com
or on (07624) 480101
Rob is supported in 2012 by
Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors,
Synergy IT (www.synergyit.com),
Nicky Grist Motorsport (www.nickygrist.com)
and Fastime Stopwatches (www.astopwatch.com) |
