Rally reports
Subaru Impreza crews engaged in thrilling battle for victory that went down to the wire
Organiser: Clitheroe & DMC When: November 23 Where: Blyton Airfield, Linc. Championships: EMAMC; ANWCC; ANEMMEC; SD34 Stages: 10 Starters: 61
David Campling and James Ducker made a rare appearance on UK soil but left a soggy Blyton Airfield with victory in their Subaru Impreza S10 WRC after a final stage shootout.
It was Adrian Spencer/lauren Hewitt’s Impreza that led for most of the day, initially holding a two-second lead over Stephen/catherine Booth’s Ford Escort Mk1 before the roles were reversed on stage two as it continued to get wetter.
“I am trying my best but had a lot of near misses,” said Spencer as he regained the lead on the following test, before extending his advantage to 11s over Booth by stage four and
16s by stage five.
Campling, meanwhile, had spun and stalled on stage one, but was into third by the end of SS3. Another spin on the next run dropped him back behind Darren Meadows/james Squires’ Mitsubishi Lancer E4 and Martin Pavier/pete Kettle’s Impreza.
Meadows had run on slicks despite the damp weather but had a front tyre delaminate on stage five, and with Pavier struggling for grip too, Campling was back into third and only 4s down on Booth by the end of SS5.
Meadows had dropped to sixth as Steve Simpson/jonathon Kennedy started to recover after their Impreza broke an oil pipe on the opening stage.
Campling finally moved ahead of Booth on stage six and began closing in on Spencer’s lead, which now stood at 15s. The gap came down to 2s with only two tests remaining, both in the dark.
After stalling at the start and then damaging his light pod after hitting a chicane, Campling was still behind by 4s as they started the last stage.
But he took 7s out of the leader and clinched victory by just 3s.
Simpson’s fightback netted him third place, which he held from stage seven, with Meadows, Pavier and Booth completing the top six.
No one got close to Mark Annison/ Ian Humphrey’s Ford Puma in Class 1, as they led all day to take the win by more than three-and-a-half minutes over Stephen Johnson/steven Butler’s Nissan Micra with Ian Bass/peter Rundle’s Toyota Yaris third.
It was a three-way fight in Class 2 but, after early leaders John Deegan/ George Merrills had a fuel problem in their Subaru Justy, David Duff/ Richard Hill’s Escort Mk2 battled with Ben Short/hannah Chislett’s Mazda MX-5. Short prevailed in the end by 28s.
Mick Pickles/beverley Warren’s Peugeot 205 GTI led Class 3 all day and were third overall early on despite blowing a spark plug. John Stevens/don Bramfoot’s Escort Mk2 took second, while the Booths dominated Class 4.
Results
1 David Campling/james Ducker (Subaru Impreza S10 WRC) 44m44s; 2 Adrian Spencer/lauren Hewitt (Impreza) +3s; 3 Steve Simpson/jonathon Kennedy (Impreza); 4 Darren Meadows/james Squires (Mitsubishi Lancer E4); 5 Martin Pavier/peter Kettle (Impreza); 6 Stephen/catherine Booth (Ford Escort Mk1); 7 Kenny/alan Brown (Mitsubishi Colt); 8 Julian Hope/nick Thornton (Lancer E7); 9 Mick Pickles/beverley Warren
(Peugeot 205 GTI); 10 Scott Renshaw/chris Bullock (Impreza). Class winners: Mark Annison/ian Humphrey (Ford Puma);
Ben Short/hannah Chislett (Mazda MX-5); Pickles/warren; Booth/booth; Campling/ducker.