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Blast Off For The Border Counties...! |
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Sunday, 18 March 2007 |
Over a hundred cars will line up in Jedburgh next weekend ready to take part in one of the Border’s region’s main sporting events when the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally gets underway on Saturday morning.
Comprising rounds of many major 2007 championships including the Hankook MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Subaru Group N Trophy as well as the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship, top crews from all over the country as well as some European visitors will be hoping for a good run on the Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club event.
Fresh from victory on Rallye Sunseeker, Hankook GRC leader Marcus Dodd
travels up from his Dorset home hoping to repeat his victory of twelve
months ago on the event when he and co driver Andrew Bargery took a
dramatic victory in the prevalent snow and ice in their Hyundai Accent
WRC.
Also in action are three other former champions in the shape of Roger
Duckworth (1998), Steve Perez (2004) and Paul Bird (2005) who will be
gunning for glory in the infamous Kielder Forest where all the
competitive action takes place.
Duckworth non-scored in Bournemouth and will be keen to rack up some
points in his Subaru whereas Perez, who finished third on the Border
Counties last year and Bird, who was on the podium two years ago after
not defending his title last season, will renew their rivalry that saw
Perez’s Focus outpoint Bird’s Subaru on round one.
But the men who could put the cats amongst the pigeons are Scottish
Championship regulars Barry Johnson and Gary Adam in their Subarus.
Johnson has twice won the event and finished runner up last year but is
not contesting any championships this season, rather picking and
choosing his events whereas Adam won the opening round of the Scottish
series and will be looking for maximum points again.
In the showroom classes, a battle royal is expected between Mitsubishi
Evo Challenge runners Phillip Morrow and Jonny Milner whilst Scotsman
Jock Armstrong is hoping to repeat his opening round victory in the
Subaru Group N Trophy.
Dumfries teenager David Bogie is expected to go well on his home event
in his Mitsubishi whilst Ulsterman Stephen Harron (Subaru), Cumbrian
Paul Benn (Focus) and Londoner John Lloyd (Focus) will pit their WRC
machinery against local heroes Jimmy Girvan (Subaru), Andy Horne (DAM
4100) and Jim Carty (Subaru).
The international flavour is complimented by Icelandic visitors Daniel
Siguroarson and co driver Isak Guojonsson (Mitsubishi) whilst Spaniard
Alex Sabater will also be in action in a similar car. Scotsmen Ian
Campbell and David Hughes continue to campaign their unique Mitsubishi
WRC’s and look out for the flamboyant ‘Mad’ Mick Jones in his Ford
Escort Mk2 which will be an entertaining affair.
The event will incorporate qualifying rounds of HPM Motorsport 2WD
Challenge, the VK 1400 Challenge as well incorporating The Dunlop Tyres
2-Wheel Drive Challenge, The ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, The Brick
& Steel 205 Ecosse Challenge 2007, The Beatsons Motorsport Scottish
Borders Rally Championship and the ESACC Stage Rally Championship.
Further information is available at www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk and www.gravelrally.co.uk
Top Ten
1 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
3 Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 Steve Perez/Claire Mole (Ford Focus WRC)
5 Jonny Milner/Ian Windress (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
6 Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru Impreza WRC)
7 Gary Adam/Gordon Adam (Subaru Impreza)
8 Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
9 Stephen Harron/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
10 Paul Benn/Richard Cooke (Ford Focus WRC)
Spectator Information
Generally access is limited to the Kielder stages, security personnel
and extra locks have been placed on certain forest and other roads.
Spectators are likely to have difficulty getting to stage by any other
way than the defined routes below.
A spectator point has been set up on each stage (where possible); each
has been chosen not only for its accessibility but also for the
viewing.
A small charge for parking is likely at each location, with agreement
with the local forestry office the proceeds for each is donated to a
local good cause, we hope that you will help us supporting these very
good causes in what are normally remote local communities. Monies are
shared with local communities affected by the event. Cost will be £10
per car for a full day pass, this will allow you access to multiple
stages and all of the Spectator car parks.
Start & Finish Ramp, Abbey Place, Jedburgh - First 1600cc car due 08:31 & First WRC car due 09:31
First cars due back from 14:56
Get a close up view of the cars & crews before they leave for the
days action in the forests. See the Provost flag the crews away &
listen to the live commentary & interviews with the drivers.
SS 1 & 8
Sorry the Forest Enterprise have requested no spectator point or parking on this stage on safety grounds.
SS2 & SS4 – Redesdale 1 & 2 - First car due SS2 09:28 & SS4 11.54
Leave A68 at MR 80/783011, signposted Forest Drive. Follow signs for
car parking over the bridge and past the toilet block. Pass the stage
exit (No entry here) and after approx ½ mile, take the next right and
park as directed. The junction is a very fast downhill section into a
square left corner.
PLEASE NOTE The forest drive will be closed and manned by Forest
Enterprise to stop people using it to get through to Kielder – The
gates at Kielder end will be locked.
SS3 – Simonside & SS7 Harwood - First car due SS3 10:58 & SS7 14:55
Leave A696 at MR 80/936914; turn right before Elsdon onto the
unclassified “Winter’s Gibbet” road. Enter the forest where signposted
and park in either of two car parks. The northern viewpoint takes you
to a square left corner. A walk of about half a mile takes you to some
downhill hairpin bends. The Southern car park takes you an open square
left corner. Stage 7 is a reversal of the morning stage.
SS 5 – The Pennine Way - First car due 12:49
Leave A68 at MR 80/783011, signposted Forest Drive. Follow signs for
car parking over the bridge and past the toilet block and pass the car
park for stage 2 & 4. Keep on the Forest Drive for approx. 1½ mile
then turn left and after about a further 1½ mile you will come to the
car park and a square left corner at the start of a long straight with
lots of blind crests.
SS6 – Bellingburn - First car due 13:09
Access to this viewpoint is via the Kielder dam, cross the dam at MR
80/ 706870 off the C200, at the North end of the Dam, turn right and
follow the signs to the car park. There are some fast flowing bends
here.
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