NEIL HOWARD STAGES CHANGE WATER SPLASH
Organisersalterfeaturetoprotectcarsandcrewsformnopener
The Bolton le-moors Car Club has made the infamous watersplash on the Neil Howard Stages shallower for the opening round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship this weekend.
The Oulton Park-based event features the watersplash just in front of the Foggarty Moss Centre, to the right of Cascades on the race circuit.
Last year it caused damage to cars and some competitors believed the feature was too deep. The organising team have reduced the depth by three inches to combat the problem.
“I don’t want people blowing up engines because of a feature on one of the stages,” said Neil Howard Stages organiser Darren Spann. “It’s a crowd entertainer and it’s something a bit different. It’s got to be a challenge, but something that doesn’t cause unnecessary damage. The intention when it went in was that the water didn’t reach the sumpguard, so that’s why we’re altering it. It needs to stay for the joy of the fans and entrants, but it needs to be safe for the cars and crews.”
Last year’s winner Kevin Procter will lead the cars away in his Ford Fiesta, while 2015 winner Stephen Simpson switches to a Ford Fiesta R5 from his Subaru Impreza S12B and is second away. The first two-wheel-drive entry on the road is reigning champion crew Ian Woodhouse and Paul Rowland in their Class D1 Ford Escort Mk2.
Mike English and Andy Robinson are likely to be frontrunners in Class C while 2015/16 Class A champions Joe Cunningham/marc Fowler return. Chris Platt and Mick Robinson will be the first Class B car away.
Tickets are available for the event – which features a fireworks display included in the entry – via the circuit website: oultonpark.co.uk.
● Entries for the Knockhill Stages Rally (December 3), joining the MN Circuit Rally Championship for the first time in 2017-18, are now open via the championship website msnrallychamp. co.uk. The second round, the Cadwell Stages Rally, has six reserves already.