CLASS BATTLES

The overall championship battle was intriguing enough in the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, but it was nothing on some of the tussles in the classes.

Most obviously, the Class A battle was a joy to behold. After seven rounds and countless miles of action, the sparring championship contenders were a single second apart going into the final stage of the season at Snetterton.

After problems earlier in the weekend, Joe Cunningham and Mark Fowler’s Vauxhall Corsa overcame Justin Lawson and Paul Hargreaves’ Nova for the honours. The two crews were respectful in their fight, with plenty of boisterous needling along the way: exactly as a grassroots rally battle should be.

After 40 years out of rallying, David Mairs returned to seal Class B in his Rallyme Volkswagen Polo. It resulted in him instantly wanting a bigger and better car to return in next year with co-driver Martin Young after the juices were flowing once more.

Steve Quigley and Tom Hutchings dominated Class C in their Renault Clio, but the duo forgo the prize as they take second in the Michelin Cup. Therefore Stuart Gilks takes the honours with Michael Boyns on the notes in their trusty Talbot Sunbeam.

In Class D1, James Sharrock and Ashley Field topped the order after their season-long title fight, but they also give up class honours to take Michelin prizes. Hard working Mike Taylor and Martin Haggett (Sunbeam Talbot Lotus) beat the reliable BMW Compact of Mike Bayliss to the class bragging rights.

Nigel Mummery headed Class D2 in his Ford Focus WRC, ahead of David Tinn. The Proton driver won two of the four rounds he entered in the eight-round series. Finishing 48 points behind Mummery in class was a phenomenal result.