DAVID EVANS

“Now is the time for Ingram to head to the WRC”

In terms of dramatic telly, it didn’t get much better than that, did it? I must admit, the action in this year’s European Rally Championship hasn’t exactly held me on the edge of my seat, but last Sunday’s Rally Hungary coverage had me right there.

But that went beyond sport. What Eurosport had there was the all-important human angle as they waited for news on the result of the final round. Standing. Agonising. Waiting. Hoping. Praying… Chris Ingram and Ross Whittock’s season (and possibly careers) hung by a thread.

Good news would make them heroes. The opposite would signal early retirement and more memories of what might have been.

But, for once, just for once, something went right for Ingram. And Britain can claim a European Rally champion for the first time since 1967.

Good for Chris, and Ross. And for the people who have stood so firmly behind the pair in the car, folk like Serkan Duru, whose Toksport team has shoestrung a Skoda together on next to no cash for the duration of the season and, of course, Neil Simpson. Once one of British rallying’s shining stars (and clearly that star hasn’t faded too much following a quality 14th on Condroz last month…), Neil is now managing some of rallying’s brightest prospects – and his work and guidance to get and keep Ingram on the right road is worthy of note.

But what now for Chris?

If ever the step to the World Rally Championship is going to come, it’s got to be now. His title comes with cachet rather than cash, but he’s got to take it to the people and sell himself. Even if his beloved blue side of Manchester might struggle in Europe this year, he’s done the job for them. Regional recognition could and should be the key to commercial co-operation to help him into a WRC 2 seat for next season.

It’s not going to be easy, which is just as well – Chris doesn’t do easy.

While there’s still space in this column, it’s worth mentioning there will be more detail on the shocking events of Coffs Harbour next week. What’s immediately refreshing for me is the way the service park has gathered to turn its back on the sport and face the human side of those tragic fires which struck New South Wales through last week. As you’d have seen from elsewhere on this page, at the time of writing, it’s not clear what the rest of the week looks like for the final round. Like I said, more on that in next week’s MN.

And finally, an apology. And a thank you. A thank you to Karl Davies for reminding me we’d forgotten to run an obituary on Jeff Churchill. You will find those words on this page, but I wanted to add a note to say sorry to the family and friends who would have read all about the passing of Andrew Cowan and Russell Brookes, but seen nothing of Jeff’s sad departure.

What a particularly rubbish time British rallying is having right now. The end of an era is always a sad thing, but news like that at the top of this column gives us hope of a brighter future.