Rally cry! Drivers preparing for Donington Park event
THIS Sunday’s MAXUS Dukeries Rally at Donington Park has attracted a capacity field so there is sure to be plenty of action, writes Peter Scherer.
Competitors will be tackling six stages, using the Donington track, infield and outfield, with stage one due to start at 9.15am.
Last year’s winners Frank Bird/ Jack Morton will be first away in their Fiesta, fresh from their recent debut in the World Rally Championship at Monza.
They were also winners in the opening round of the Motorsport News Rally Championship, the Neil Howard Stages at Oulton Park.
Starting at two is another Fiesta, with Neil Roskell/Andrew Roughead.
After taking his first Championship podium at Oulton, Roskell comfortably won round two on the Cadwell Park stages.
Former champions Barry Morris/ Tom Hutchings are third away, their Darrian having finished second at Cadwell.
Robert Swann/Darren Garrod are at four in their Fiesta, followed by the similar cars of Rob Hughes/ Sion Cunniff and Andy Scott/Marc Fowler.
Josh’s Payton and Davey had a great battle at Cadwell, but it was Payton’s Escort shared with Jamie Vaughan that came out on top to win Class C, with Davey and sister Tamsyn sharing the Darrian.
Both crews have travelled here from the South West.
Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas’ Fiesta and Martin Hodgson/ Tony Jones’ Escort both went well at Cadwell too and complete the top 10 starters. Next up is another quartet of Fiestas.
Nick/Sally Whale will hoping to go further than they did at Cadwell though, after retiring with an off on the opening stage.
Paul Murro/Callum Cross had to fight back from early problems too at Cadwell, as did Mike English/ Andy Robinson.
Jeffrey Panton/Michael Fennell are the first of three visitors from the Caribbean, while Alistair/Colin Inglis had a long journey from Aberdeen.
Mike Taylor/Martin Haggett’s Sunbeam Lotus is next up, with Lyndon Barton/Simon Hunter’s Fiesta R5, Tony Robinson/Paul Spooner’s Skoda R5 and Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt’s Metro 6R4 making up the rest of the top 20.
Matt Walk/Adrian Walk’s Fiesta is the top seed in Class A, from Tony Burton/Mark Burton’s Nissan Micra.
Local crew Chris Ruck/Steve Harris head Class B with their Vauxhall Corsa Kit Car, from Alex Cannon/Alan Carfrae’s Fiesta and
Paul Sheard/Callum Young’s Mazda MX5.
Behind Payton and Davey in Class C, Matt Wood/Val Thompson’s Astra will be chasing hard, while in Class D Morris and Hodgson are off first, from Mike Taylor.
The service area will be open to the public as well as the spectator viewing areas. Advanced tickets offering a sizeable saving can be bought at: