GIBBARD AND RODGERS STEAL PROM WIN BY A CONE
Darrian crew win by a second over charging Kelly
Just one second separated the top two crews on the Promenade Stages Rally, with Nigel Gibbard and Simon John Rodgers the winners after two rapid-fire days of rallying.
Affectionately known as the rally of 1000 cones, the event around New Brighton, less than 10 miles from the Albert Dock in Liverpool, always throws up late drama. But surprise leaders Gibbard and Rodgers had to fend off an almost irresistible charge by Mark Kelly and Andy Baker in their Ford Escort Mk2.
Baker and Kelly were as low as 12th in the order, but moved into the lead on SS7 when one of the pre-event favourites, Simon Bowen, suffered gearbox trouble in his Subaru Impreza S12B, and any chance of defending last year’s win went out of the window.
On the last loop of stages, the top five were separated by just 23s. Kelly pushed for all he was worth, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Darrian T9 driver Hibbard, who was four seconds quicker than Kelly on the last test to secure the win. It was Rodgers’ first rally win in 14 years of competing on an event close to the North Wales driver and navigator.
Chris West took the third spot in his Peugeot 306 Maxi, which he moved through the order steadily to take a podium spot. Wil Owen and Rob Hopewell steered their Escort to fourth, pipping Geoff Martin’s Darrian – which led overnight – by seven seconds.
Failing to break into the top five, but still the most evocative car in the field, Mark Holmes steered his Unipart-liveried MG Metro 6R4 to a sixth place, entertaining the spectators no end.
One spot behind was the first of the up to 2000cc cars in Mike English and Andy Robinson, their Ford Escort Mk2 with a two-litre engine giant-killing as ever and well inside the top 10 against some strong competition.
You had to look outside the top 10 for the first four-wheel-drive car on the event, with Paul Evans debuting a new Mitsubishi Lancer E9 replacing his evergreen and rally-winning Ford Escort Mk2.
Gethin Jones and Tomos Williams put in a fine performance to win the up to 1400cc class, finishing 26th overall and above the 1400-1600cc class entries. The latter was won by Ryan Burns’ Super 1600-spec Vauxhall Corsa known as the ‘batmobile’.
Pre-event favourite John Stone joined the wounded list in yet another retirement for his Ford Fiesta S2500 Millington, unearthing engine issues at the start of day two. Rob Hughes and Sion Cuniff also retired their Millingtonengine Ford Focus.