WOODHOUSE BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Former champion is master of tricky conditions. By Dan Mason
It was as though 2016-17 Motorsport News Circuit Rally champion Ian Woodhouse had never been away from the series as he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels to win the NHMC Cadwell Park Stages on his return.
Torrential conditions and two stage cancellations provided plenty of hurdles in a rally of attrition, but it did not stop Woodhouse and co-driver Paul Rowland from sealing a first victory for their Ford Escort Mk2, which last won with Mark Kelly at the same circuit in 2018.
Although it appeared simple by the final time check, echoed by five punishing stages wins from the six contested, the returning champion had to roll his sleeves up initially thanks to some welcome early competition.
“We really need it to chuck down,” was Woodhouse’s verdict after the opening stage as he trailed the rapid Darrian T90 of Joshua Davey.
After a solid, class-winning performance in the Oulton Park opener Davey and co-driver Tamsyn Davey’s initial blast through the forest was enough to leap into a five-second lead over Woodhouse come the conclusion of the first stage.
Then, with one cloud burst, fortune shifted. Woodhouse’s wishes had been granted as the conditions worsened and he grabbed the lead with an effort over eight seconds quicker than his nearest rival.
Davey’s Darrian appeared the only contender to the rebuilt Mk2, but reliability trouble reared its ugly head on SS3.
“The car was running well but started jumping out of gears randomly, it was maybe all going too well,” said co-driver Tamsyn.
The car stopped with reoccurring problems on the following stage, throttle issues ultimately forcing them into retirement. Clear from his pursuers, Woodhouse was unrelenting, reeling off four consecutive stage victories in the afternoon to stave off an inspired Mike Taylor in an updated Talbot Sunbeam Lotus.
There was one surprise in store for Woodhouse and Rowland as night descended in the latter stages, although it would not prevent them sealing a first MN win since their title-winning campaign in 2017.
“It was perfect – well, until the lights stopped working on stage seven,” said Woodhouse, who finished with a winning margin of just over a minute. “We thought to cable tie the stork on the flash. Other than that, it’s spot on, and I can’t ask for any more. I tested at Donington and I actually scared myself a little bit, which is probably a good sign!”
When gearbox gremlins removed Stephen Tilburn’s Escort Mk2 from the mix Taylor relaxed, safe in the knowledge he could follow Woodhouse home for his second MN Circuit
Rally Championship podium finish.
“The new engine has been working very well,” said Taylor, who matched his career best rally result from Anglesey with the runner-up spot. “We’ve had a whole new front end fitted since Oulton, and it all shows that our personal in-house developments are now working well.”
The surprise package of the day rounded out the podium after being aided by the reigning MN Circuit
Rally champion.
Chris West may have been absent from the entry list but he was on hand to support Dan Corner, who was carrying a former Peugeot engine of West’s in his 205 as he climbed the field to snatch third place ahead of the chasing Escort Mk2 of title contender, Michael Walton.
“I wasn’t expecting that”, Chris [West] has been fantastic to me, and it’s given us a big boost for this,” said Corner after taking the rostrum.
The quiet assassin was Allan Mcdowall who followed Walton home in fifth place in his flamboyant Opel Kadett, beating the experienced Escort Mk2 pairing of class C frontrunners Mike English and Rob Cox, the latter returning to the series for the first time in 12 months.
Paul Murro’s Escort Mk2 again placed inside the top 10, which was rounded out by Cathy Sewart in another Sunbeam Lotus and the over-achieving SEAT Ibiza of
Stuart Popplewell.
Another Darrian to hit trouble was that of Barry Morris. His crash forced the cancellation of stage two, before a more substantial incident for Adam Williams and Rachael Atherton brought SS4 to a halt when their Subaru Impreza aquaplaned backwards into the barriers.
Both were taken to hospital for precautionary checks.