Mairs hoping to return to MN series
David Mairs is hoping to return to the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, having won this year’s Class B title after almost 40 years out of the sport.
Mairs steered a Volkswagen Polo rented from Rallyme to the class title, after a close battle with Paul Sheard ended when he retired with a broken gearbox.
“It was the Mewla Stages I competed on around 40 years ago,” explained Mairs of his last rally outing. “It was in a Droopsnoot Vauxhall Firenza, which I bent quite badly. When I was competing you couldn’t really rent cars but now it’s great something like Rallyme exists.”
Mairs got back into the sport through a birthday present paid for at the car rental and preparation company, and is hoping to return next year.
“This year has been superb,” said Mairs. “If something like this existed back in the day it would certainly be the kind of events I’d like to do.”
Mairs is now deciding whether to stick in Class B or to upgrade next year: “I’d like to be in the mix for overall podiums so we have a decision to make.”
Organiser: South Hams Motor Club When: May 21/22 Where: RAF Portreath, Cornwall Championships: ASWMC; ACSMC; South West Clubmans Rally Challenge Stages: 14 Starters: 83
Steve and Yvonne Furzeland had their work cut out to take their second TSH Stages win in three years.
In a two-day, multi-way scrap for the lead, the Subaru Impreza S12B pairing came from behind to claim a 43s victory over Gary le Coadou/ Ashley Trimble (Toyota Corolla WRC), with 2015 winners Dave Parnell/pete Bold (Ford Escort Mk1) third.
Morning rain gave way to drier conditions as the rally got under way on Saturday afternoon, but the tracks at RAF Portreath remained slippery.
Immediately, last year’s early pacesetter, Kevin Tappin (Ford Escort Cosworth), repeated his performance. He set three fastest times in the opening four tests, but the chasing pack of Furzeland, Le Coadou, Parnell and James Harvey/paul Price (Impreza) clung determinedly to his coat-tails. A little further back, in-form giant killers Ben Parker/alf Chanter (Honda Civic) had a good run, challenging for a top 10 position.
As day one’s eight stages concluded, Tappin and co-driver Jamie Vaughan held an eight-second lead over Furzeland, with Le Coadou third, the Corolla driver having survived a sixthstage overshoot and stall at a junction.
Day two’s battle between Tappin and Furzeland never materialised, as Tappin’s Escort broke its diff on Sunday’s opening test.
But Parnell charged his way to equal fastest time on stage nine, moved into third overall and Portreath first-timer Le Coadou, having adjusted his suspension settings, picked up his pace and consolidated second. In the closing miles, Harvey’s strong run ended when he crashed out on stage 12, ceding fourth place to the ever-consistent Paul King/alicia Miles (Escort). A midafternoon brace of fourth fastest times gave Timself/nick Vigors (Subaru B13) fifth, while a late charge netted sixth for Kev Carr/chris Pippen (Escort). Parker/chanter once again defied the odds to finish eighth.