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The destiny of the 2007 MSA
Asphalt Rally Championship will be decided over the remote military roads of the
Otterburn ranges in Northumberland when the UTS Cheviot Rally hosts the sixth
and final event of the season this Sunday (11th November).
Both Steve Simpson (Hyundai
Accent WRC) and John Price (MG Metro 6R4) cannot be separated on points going
into the event and it really is a ‘winner takes all’ scenario of the highest
order.
Manchester driver Simpson took the
win on the opening round of the series, the controversial Tour of Epynt, but
since then, hasn’t managed to top the podium whereas
Hereford’s price has taken victory
at the previous two rounds (Sligo and
Ulster).
But with competitor’s best four
scores only counting towards the championship, the maths are quite simple, if
either Simpson or Price crosses the ramp as rally winners, they are 2007
champions. If it’s Price it will be his thirteenth such title but for Simpson,
it would be his first…
In the Co-drivers’ section, the
battle is no less intense. Caroline Price (JP) and Mark Booth (MS) are equal in
the points table but, on this occasion, Booth is not available and Simpson has
enlisted the help of Patrick Walsh. Currently, however, Booth would take the
title on count-back and it means Caroline still has to finish 5th highest
Championship contender or better, if she is to reverse the
situation.
Like the two main championship
protagonists, newcomers Tommi Graham and Mike Bailey have maintained a 100%
finishing record in their Mitsubishi Lancer and while Bailey is safe in third,
Graham has Group N leader Nick James (Mitsubishi Lancer) breathing down his neck
for the final podium place in the Drivers’ table.
After an absence of several
months, Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt are returning to the MSA Asphalt Championship for
the Cheviot. The pair were leading the event for a while this time last year
before their MG Metro 6R4 suffered gearbox problems, causing them to drop to an
eventual third overall.
Other locals in with a shout are
Geordies Andy Fenwick and Lee Tindall who debut their recently acquired Skoda
and they along with the Subaru of John Marshall/Paul Hughes could influence the
result, as could the rapid 6R4 pairing of John Stone and Lee
Carter.
Supporting the main National A
event is the National B Keith Knox Rally which runs adjacent to the UTS Cheviot
Rally and the Newcastle pairing of
Michael Glendinning and Andrew Roughead start as favourites in their Subaru.
1 John Price/Caroline Price
MG Metro 6R4
2 Steve Simpson/Patrick
Walsh
Hyundai Accent WRC
3 Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt
MG Metro 6R4
4 Michael Glendinning/Andrew
Roughead
Subaru Impreza
5 Andy Fenwick/Lee Tindall
Skoda
6 John Marshall/Paul Hughes
Subaru Impreza
7 John Stone/Lee Carter
MG Metro 6R4
8 George Mackey/Ken Bills
Mitsubishi Lancer
9 Tommi Graham/Mike Bailey
Mitsubishi Lancer
10 Nick James/Bill Robertson
Mitsubishi Lancer
The first car leaves the start of
the UTS Cheviot National Rally on the Ranges at 8.30am and arrives back at the finish at the Otterburn
Hall Hotel at 4.30pm that
afternoon.
Spectators will only be allowed
at Leighton Hill (map reference sheet 80/908954) with the first car due at
09.01.Access will be arrowed off the A696 via the B6341 with the entrance to the
ranges just before Elsdon
Village (at 928934). Please do not
enter via Elsdon
Village
Please drive with due care and
park sensibly to allow access for rescue vehicles and follow the marshals
instructions as anyone deemed to be in a dangerous place will stop the stage.
Marshals are still required so if
you can help, please call Guy Whickham (Chief Marshal) on 07989 322186.
Details and downloads are
available at www.cheviotstages.co.uk
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