With 2013 drawing to a close, Isle of Man Rally Co-Driver Rob Fagg recently bought an end to his season with a second overall placing on the Premier Rally in Sherwood Pines. Competing alongside Lancashire’s Arron Newby the pair used the event to enjoy a no pressure run out in their TEG Sport Subaru Impreza and bring the curtain down on a hugely successful season for the pair.

Following six stages totalling 33 miles they would end the event 68 seconds down on the Subaru Impreza WRC of now three time winner Rob Swann with co-driver Aled Edwards, but on comparison to 12 months previous the performance was much stronger for Arron, despite him being much more accustom to sealed surface rallying these days.

The event was the final one for both Newby and Fagg and they will both enjoy some much earned rest as they plan for the 2014 season.

It has been a doubly successful season for Fagg, having competed with leading Canadian driver Patrick Richard on his home series in addition to Isle of Man and UK events with Newby.

2013 began in unexpected fashion for Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors supported Fagg with a last minute trip to Canada to contest the Rallye Perce Neige, a snow and ice event – a first for the Manx co-driver, with Richard and Subaru Rally Team Canada. The surprise trip would be worthwhile though and Rob would find himself on the top spot of the podium taking the honours in tough conditions.

An agreement would then be struck between Pat and Rob for future events, and with second place finishes on Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, Rallye Defi and the Pacific Forest Rally along with a start on the penultimate round of the series the Rocky Mountain Rally, Rob secured the Canadian Rally Championship Co-Drivers title. A fantastic achievement considering the first event started off as a one time run but turned into much more of an experience.

Back on home soil in the Isle of Man, the Manx Rally Championship would begin just as strongly as the Canadian had with a surprise victory on the closed road Chris Kelly Memorial Rally as Rob and 18 year old Newby began their title challenge.

What started off as a learning year took a whole new twist with the victory, but there would be disappointment on the second round with a freak retirement. A slight off road excursion saw the Pirelli / VP Fuels / Ravenol Impreza leave the road and suffer a split fuel tank ending an impressive run on the Manx National Rally.

Despite the setback, and Newby being forced to miss the third round, a single venue on the disused airfield at Jurby in the North of the island, they would come back strongly and take victory on the only off road round in the championship, the Dave Corris Forest Stages. Next up would be probably the toughest round, the 50^th anniversary Manx International, a two and half day double header and a must finish for the TEG Sport pairing.

The event will probably go down as the best of the year!
Not only did Arron become the youngest ever winner of an event steeped in history, with Rob alongside they overcame mechanical issues to take a comprehensive victory and score a first and second on the double header to leave them with needing an eighth placing on the final round to take the series honours.

Despite not needing to push, Newby and Fagg would not be headed on the Pokerstars Rally, although they did enjoy a battle with Steve Colley before he hit problems on the second day of the event.

An amazing fourth overall win on Manx soil in just ten months cumulated in four maximum and one second placed points finishes across the championship, enough to claim the pair the 2013 titles and also Newby the Junior crown, a surprise achievement based against the teams initial objectives for the year.

During the year Arron and Rob also achieved a strong  seventh overall placing on the Jim Clark Rally while Rob took a sixth overall alongside Grant Leece in his Vauxhall Astra on the Jurby Stages, all in all a fantastic season for Fagg.

“2013 has been a great year and has delivered a lot more than I expected and to have competed in the Canadian series was not even on the radar never mind winning it!” explained Rob.

“Competing alongside Arron and working with the TEG Sport Team has been fantastic and to win the Manx Championship with them and take four victories is something special. Arron is a great driver and for the tender age of 18 he produced some magnificent performances, and I hope to sort something out with him for 2014.”

“Similarly competing in Canada alongside a driver of Pat’s calibre was a great experience. His car control was amazing and with a bit more luck I think we could have taken the top spot of the podium more often, I have to thank him for the chance he took taking me on board at the start of the season, and the whole of Subaru Rally Team Canada for making me so welcome.”