EDWARDS AND CAVE PREPARE TO BATTLE FOR BRC CROWN
Title will be decided this weekend on Galloway Hills Rally as Edwards holds advantage
Matt Edwards reckons that all of the pressure is on Tom Cave going into the final round of the British Rally Championship this weekend following their contrasting fortunes on the Ulster Rally.
Edwards led home the BRC field alongside Patrick Walsh in their Ford Fiesta R5 as Cave and
Dale Bowen crashed out on the penultimate stage meaning they left the counter scoreless.
Both drivers are set to renew their rivalry on the Galloway Hills Rally this weekend where 30 points are on offer for the winner as both men will play their double points joker.
However, a top-five result will be enough to for Edwards to defend his title, a feat last achieved by
Keith Cronin in 2010.
“Tom has got to win – it is as simple as that,” said Edwards. “He is going to be under pressure to make sure that happens. After the Ulster result the onus is all on him whereas I only have to drive around and get the points that I need. We’ve done some rough calculations and fifth or higher would be enough. We don’t need to go all out for the win.
“We will go there with a safety-first approach because at the end of the day you do whatever is necessary to win the championship, don’t you? You only do as much as what is required.”
Cave and Bowen walked away unscathed from their fourth-gear crash on Shinn Bridge that led to the Korean car sustaining considerable damage. “It was a fair stop and it was not pretty but that is what can happen when you are pushing. That is the way that it can go,” said Cave.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the Scottish gravel, it’s been a while since the last time and I like the flow of those stages.
“Matt will be playing the championship game and we’re very much against it going into the event, but we’ll be giving it our all.
“He might have a bit of pressure as it’s always harder to drive at
70% than 90%. A lot can happen in 75 miles.”
Meanwhile, Edwards’ performance on the Ulster was good enough to put Walsh’s name on the British Rally Championship co-driver’s trophy.