Round five of the 2008 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally
Championship heads for Wales for the second time in two months this
forthcoming weekend when the Swansea Bay Rally takes place on
Saturday (July 19th).
And with most of the leading
crews in action in the classic Welsh forests once again, the finish
ramp on Saturday evening should perhaps start to give one or two
pointers towards the destiny of the various crowns in the
ANCRO-organised series.
Quite surprisingly, the
leading two drivers in the series, Jon Ingram (Subaru) and Andy
Burton, have yet to appear on the official entry list but rumour has
it that Burton in his radical Peugeot Cosworth will make it in time
to the Swansea start ramp. Also missing is Irishman Stephen Moore
(Ford Focus WRC) meaning a couple of drivers will be dropping this
round as part of the two worst scores as per the championship
regulations.
Assuming Burton competes, he'll face stiff
opposition from defending ANCRO champion and last year's rally
winner Marcus Dodd in his Hyundai Accent WRC and they, along with
respective co drivers Shelley Rogerson and Andrew Bargery will be
looking to close the points gap between themselves and the
Ingram/Ian Allsop combination.
Already this year, both
drivers have a no-score to their names, Burton choosing to miss the
asphalt of the RBS International Manx Rally and Dodd retiring from
the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally, so a win for either of
them this weekend would go a long way to bolstering their chances
with just two rounds remaining afterwards.
However, a few other crews
in WRC machinery will be hunting them down and although not playing
a major part in the series themselves, they could have an effect on
the championship outcome as most are registered for ANCRO
points.
Fresh from taking victory
last weekend on the Quinton Stages, former ANCRO champion Steve
Perez and co driver Stephen McAuley will be looking for another win
in their Ford Focus WRC whereas another ex champion who also missed
the opening two rounds was Roger Duckworth, who along with Mark
Broomfield, racked up a win in the Isle of Man and always goes well
in Wales in his Subaru.
Welshman Julian Reynolds
(Subaru) will be looking for a good run on home territory whereas
Scotsman Dave Weston (Ford Focus) can't be ruled out and with the
likes of Charlie Payne (Mitsubishi WRC) and Alan Cookson (Subaru
WRC), there is plenty of strength in depth in the
field.
The Mitsubishi Ralliart
Evolution Challenge and Cup is at a crucial stage with only one
point separating the top four drivers in the championship standings.
Daniel Barry, David Bogie, Richard Cathcart and Nik Elsmore will all
be battling for supremacy and with cars strictly controlled to
comply with Group N regulations, all are similar in performance and
with so many drivers of equal pace registered for this year's
series, 2008 has so far produced the closest competition yet. In
fact, with four rounds already run and three to go, only five points
separates the top six!
Veteran Harry Dodd leads
the Prima Motorsports 'Old Stagers' class with Brummies Nathan Crewe
and John Connor leading the Two Wheel Drive Challenge in their MG
and who will be up against the usual protagonists including Rod
Bennett/Henry Richardson in their S1600 Fiat Punto and Tim/Kit Leigh
in their Ford Fiesta.
The event also
incorporates round three of the 2008 Pirelli ANCRO Rally Challenge
which sees Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy runner Kris Hall lead the
standings. Whilst local driver Damian Cole (Hyundai Accent WRC)
along with James Belton (Subaru WRC) will be at the cutting edge,
the 'one-make' Fiestas will add spice to the competition including
James Everard, Liam Regan and Elfyn Evans as the lure of an
end-of-season first prize of a Fiesta ST road car will serve to
concentrate a considerable number of minds during the
day!
Making a welcome addition
to the ANCRO ranks will also be a 37 car entry in the Yokohama
Challenge with Ciro Carannante heading the BMW 325 field away and
Dan Corner the first of the Peugeot 205s.
The action begins as the
first car in the Swansea Bay Clubmans Rally leaves the SA1 start at
8.00am, with the first National Rally competitor away at
9.15am. The survivors from each of the three events will start
arriving back at 13.30 (Clubmans) with the first National crews
scheduled back at the finish at 16.50.
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