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Manx rally co-driver Rob Fagg heads to Cumbria this
weekend to tackle the Malcolm Wilson Rally, the
event, now marking the start of the Ravenol BTRDA
Rally Series following the cancellation of the
Cambrian Rally back in February.
Looking to get their Gold Star Championship bid
underway on the Cockermouth based event,
Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors
backed Rob and driver Hugh Hunter (Ruthin) will
finally get the opportunity to sample the
P&R Benn Ford Focus WRC02 in competition.
As a former winner of the event, Hunter will be keen
to put on a good showing on his teams local event,
with P&R Benn based in the host town. The event
though has attracted a high quality entry as a
number of crews look to use the event as a warm up
for the upcoming British Rally Championship opener,
resulting in Hunter and Burger Man Catering
sponsored Fagg being seeded at number 17.
Former multiple British Champion Keith Cronin will
lead the field away in his Ford Fiesta R5 followed
by another former British and multiple Scottish
Rally Champion David Bogie (Skoda Fabia R5), then
it’s the turn of reigning BTRDA Gold Star
Champion Luke Francis (Mitsubishi Evo 9). BRC
frontrunner Desi Henry (Fabia) starts just ahead of
2013 BTRDA Champion and former Scottish Champion
Euan Thorburn (Fiesta) completing the top five.
That’s just the start of what could prove to be one
of the most competitive rallies of the year in the
UK as Fagg well knows.
“The event has attracted a great entry and there are
a number of crews who could take the honours come
the end on Saturday evening. With a number of BRC
crews entered the pace is sure to be fast and we
just need to be mindful to concentrate on the
Championship” commented JR Hinchliffe Plumbing and
Heating sponsored Rob, “With many of the crews not
likely to contest the full championship, I hope that
if they choose to register for the series it does
not have too much of a bearing come the end of the
season.”
Getting under on Saturday with the first car away at
07:00 from the home of the M-Sport Ford World Rally
Team in Dovenby, seven stages lie in wait totalling
just over 40 competitive miles. Stages in Hobcarton,
Comb and Wythop before a first run in Greystoke
bring the crews to the first service. They then head
for two stages in Grizedale where the rally has been
so often won and lost with another service prior to
the crews returning to Greystoke for the final stage
of the event and reaching the finish just after
14:30.
“It’s going to be good to get to get the
Championship underway and while the Cambrian is a
great event, the Malcolm Wilson provides another
fantastic event to get the series underway”
explained Rob, “It’s a rally I have always enjoyed
and Hugh also so hopefully we can get a good result
for Paul (Benn) and his team on their home event.”
Fagg comes into the event on a high, having won the
Legend Fires North West Stages two weekends ago with
Arron Newby. The change from sealed surface,
multi-lap spectator stages to some of the
best-regarded forest tracks in the country could not
represent a bigger difference, but it is one Fagg
takes in his stride.
“This is where experience counts, and luckily we
have plenty of that. Obviously you have a lot fewer
landmarks or bigger corners in the forests to keep
you on the notes than on the sealed surface tests,
but having the skills needed to deliver the
information the driver needs, when he needs it,
remains the name of the game!
Live results will be available throughout the day at
www.btrdarallyresults.co.uk/results/index.php
Rob is supported in 2017 by Robert Graham & Co
Quantity Surveyors, JR Hinchliffe Plumbing and
Heating, Burger Man Catering and Fastime Stopwatches
(www.astopwatch.com) |
