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Rally News - 18th June Greenerways Rally OK, so Mark Higgins won last Sunday’s Greenerways Rally in Kielder (14th June), but that’s to miss the point. The event was actually staged to provide some feedback and statistics on Pirelli’s new ‘Eco Tyres’. With Forestry roads getting chewed up worser and worser each year, and the FC wanting to charge us more for the privilege, something has to be done. The BRC therefore staged this trial and offered up to 20 cars the chance to do 33 miles for an Entry Fee off £195 - plus a recce and a shakedown and a free set of Pirelli ‘Eco Tyres’ to use on the rally. The big shock here is that there weren’t a whole load more of Scottish skinflints taking up the offer for a cheap day’s testing ahead of the Scottish! Anyway, if ye wereny there, ye missed yersel. At the end of the event, Mark Higgins said: "The purpose of this event was to see the effect of a less aggressive tyre on the gravel surface and I think it proved very successful. It was inevitable that the cars had less grip than we are used to and we proved the stage times are slower when we did a final run on a conventional tyre at the end of the event." He added: "I’m pleased to have been involved in this project as it could very well help secure the future of forest rallying in the UK, Its now in the hands of the Forestry Commission." Jock Armstrong was trying out a new diff ECU and finished second behind Mark, and said afterwards: “The tyres were OK for the conditions, gravelly and dry. If everybody was to use the same tyre, then bring it on!” “There were 70 cars through the stage and the surface seemed to stand up OK. There were tiny bits of rut at the start line and some wear on hairpins and junctions, but not at all bad. Mark did one stage on K6s (K4s might have been better) and having seen how worn they were after that, they might have done just one stage more. On that basis, a driver might have needed 8 to 10 ‘normal’ tyres compared to the one set we used – so that’s the difference! These tyres would be OK – as long as they’re cheaper!” David Bogie had fuel pump problems in the Lancer EVO10 so was unable to have a right good go at Mark and Jock, but when asked about the tyres said: “I agree with the theory behind it even though there was no braking grip and no sideways grip compared to what I’m used to. It was so frustrating having to brake so early and then not get the grip on the corners, but you have to accept these tyres for what they are and just get on with it.” Dave Weston Jnr was at the event too and was on the pace of the top three till fuel starvation on the final run sidelined him. Event originator Mark Taylor said: "It has been a very useful exercise and the Forestry Commission engineers now have much more data with which to assess the damage caused to the tracks." He concluded, "This project would never have happened without the input from Pirelli, the Forestry Commission and the MSA. But even with their assistance there would have been no rally without the Cumberland Sporting Car Club, all the marshals, rescue crews and people who have given up their free time to help secure the future of British forest rallying. Thanks to all." Naturally, the Forestry boys were keeping an eye on things and had set up boards on each of the corners to catch the stones being chucked up by the cars. Mark Higgins also did a back to back run on Pirelli K6s (as Jock said earlier) and then on the Eco Tyres and the difference was marked, the chuckies didn’t need to be counted. You could see the difference! And can I leave the final word to John Bogie who went out spectating while the rest were rallying: “I was a critic before I went, but a convert when I came back. The cars were sliding around a lot more, so a driver needs more skill to keep control - and it’s far easier on the transmission!” “It’s also more entertaining for the crowds.” Now there’s a thought. ** Malcolm Wilson, OBE Now I know he’s not Scottish, but he’s the next best thing, he comes from Cumbria. Ford's world rally team director Malcolm Wilson has been admitted to the Order of the British Empire after being awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for his services to British motorsport in the Queen’s birthday honours. Wilson will receive his honour from Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London later this year. He steered the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team to two manufacturers' world titles in 2006 and 2007. Wilson joins other British motorsport greats including Sir Jackie Stewart (GBE), Colin McRae (MBE), John Surtees (OBE), Nigel Mansell (OBE) and Damon Hill (OBE) in being granted an Order of the British Empire. "It's a great honour, and a huge surprise, to be recognised in this way by Her Majesty The Queen," said the 53-year-old M-Sport boss: "Motorsport, and particularly rallying, has been my life. I feel so proud to have delivered two world championship titles for Ford, and equally as proud to have done so from M-Sport's base at my home town in Cockermouth, Cumbria. I feel very humble that our achievements have been recognised in this way. But this is not just an honour for me. It's also a reward for all the employees at M-Sport who work so hard to keep Ford at the forefront of the FIA World Rally Championship. They should also feel great pride at this award." Wilson was appointed to run Ford's official world championship rally programme in 1997. Under his leadership, Ford has twice won the manufacturers' title with the Focus RS World Rally Car and finished second on six occasions. Since M-Sport was awarded the Ford contract, the team has won 38 world rallies and scored points on 113 consecutive world rallies – a record in itself. So on behalf of all us up here, congratulations Malcolm - and to Elaine for putting up with you! Just don’t spray the gravel when you’re leaving Buck House! ** Sebastien, the Crashed Yin Now, not a lot of people know this. In the week that Sebastien smacked the Citroen, Total was celebrating its 40th anniversary as the official oil and fuel supplier to French car maker Citroen. Do any of you remember the original DS? Well, way back in1968 the oil company developed an oil-specific formulation to prevent the DS fouling its plugs and to improve the ignition process. But it wasn’t till 1989 that Total got involved with Citroen’s rally programme on the Monte Carlo that year, and the rest, as they say, is history. ** Guy Wilks for Rally of Scotland British Rally Champion Guy Wilks is take part in the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland in November. Wilks will drive the Varta Consumer Batteries Proton Satria Neo Super 2000, designed and built by Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM). Phil Pugh will co-drive. They debuted the car at April’s Pirelli Rally, round two of the British Rally Championship and lead from the start. Unfortunately that particular car was destroyed by fire. Wilks and Pugh’s last competitive drive in Scotland was in 2004 on the Scottish International Rally, when they finished fourth overall and won the Super 1600cc category in the Suzuki Ignis. And just as an aside, who was top Scot that year? Barry Clark was 13th in a Ford Puma and Lorna Smith 14th in a Subaru. ** Topaz Donegal Rally David Bogie is contesting the Topaz Donegal Rally (and so is Callum Duffy in the Escort and Roger Donan in the Puma) this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in his Dad’s Metro. Seeded at 47 last year, he was lying 6th at the end of Day 1 before the Metro started playing up, so he’s hopeful of doing better this year. But I had to laugh. His Dad was telling me they went down to an airfield in Lincoln last week to give the car a run. John told me: “It’s the first time I had been in it for 18 months, so I took David out for a spin to warm up the tyres and the brakes and then David asked if he could have a go, so we swapped seats. Actually, this was the first time I had ever sat with him, in the same car, either road or rally!” “Well, he set off, and approaching the first corner, I was reaching for the brake pedal. I was still reaching for the pedal and he’s still biffing in the gears, and just when I thought we’d never make it, he braked and shot round the corner!” “He’s at a different level from what I was - he put the frighteners on me!” ** And finally… If you’re ever sitting there twiddling your thumbs and have nine and a half minutes to spare, and if you are interested in the art form and scientific aspects of Route Note preparation, it’s worth clicking on to YouTube. Making Route Notes is a serious business, but after a long hard day in the woods, writing them up, checking them and re-checking them, it’s understandable if the Route Noters let their hair down once in a while – that is if they both have hair. Unfortunately for ‘Lucky’ Stirrup and his partner Gully Hooker, the camera was still running… Go on, you really have to watch this: ** |