INGRAM SHOWS HIS CLASS WITH WIN
We launch a search for the nation’s most beloved stage performers.
Chris Ingram and Craig Drew headed the North West Stages throughout bringing their Skoda Fabia Rally2 to victory with a 52-second winning margin ahead of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Paul MacKinnon and Paul Beaton.
Ingram was quickest through the opening Beacon Fell test ahead of MacKinnon, who was making a cautious start in the hired Ford Fiesta R5 in which Stephen Petch won the previous weekend’s Malcolm Wilson Rally.
Neil Simpson and Michael Gibson’s Skoda Fabia Rally2 was three seconds behind but a second up on Jason Pritchard and Phil Clark’s VW Polo GTi R5 and the Ford Fiesta R5 of David Wright and Paula Swinscoe who were tied for fourth. A spin cost Frank Bird and Jack Morton around 15s after the car ended up broadside across a narrow road.
As Ingram extended his lead through Long Knotts the stage was stopped after the Skoda Fabia Proto of Paul Wedgbury/ Neil Dashfield hit a tree. Crews were then directed to Hawthornthwaite where Ingram extended his lead over MacKinnon to 23s while Simpson recovered third place from Pritchard as Wright retained fifth.
A series of accidents in the following Nicky Nook stage reshaped the leaderboard as both Pritchard and Wright retired. The Ford Fiesta R5 of Mark Kelly/Neil Colman was now fourth and the Ford Fiesta WRC of Steve Wood/Dale Bowen was fifth. A third incident involving the Ford Escort Mk2 of Chris Ford/ Matty Daniels put a total stop to proceedings with competitors being re-routed to the first Myerscough service halt.
Leg two started with Lewth where Simpson, Kelly and MacKinnon all got within a second of Ingram’s fastest stage time. Ingram was fastest over Beacon Fell 2, moving 42s clear of MacKinnon, but when his car came to rest in a hedge having spun following a jump on Long Knots 2 his lead was cut by 16s. The leading pair then swapped times through Hawthornthwaite and Nicky Nook reaching second service separated by 28s.
Lewth 2 was cancelled to avoid a possible issue with road closure times so third visits to Beacon Fell, Long Knots, Hawthornthwaite and Nicky Nook would now complete the rally.
More top 10 order changes came with gearbox issues ruling out the Ford Fiesta R5 of David Henderson/Chris Lees, Tom Preston/Carl Williamson’s Ford Fiesta Rally2 crashing out on Beacon Fell and the Escort Mk2 of Darren Atkinson/Phil Sandham going off in
Hawthornthwaite.
With a clean sweep of leg three fastest times Ingram was uncatchable as MacKinnon, Kelly, Simpson and Bird completed the top five. Simon Bowen and Richard Robinson succeeded in their aim to bring their Ford Fiesta S2000T home unscathed and finished sixth, Wood came home seventh while a trouble-free run got Joe Cunningham/Josh Beer eighth in their Ford Fiesta R5.
John Stone/Tom Woodburn were forced to complete the final leg with their VW Polo GTi R5 suffering a launch control problem while Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle completed the top 10 in their Fiesta Rally2.
Results
North West Stages Rally
Organisers: Motorsport (North West) Ltd. When: March 19 Where: Garstang Championships: ANCC; NETRC; ANWCC; SD34. Stages: 13. Starters: 125.
1 Chris Ingram/Craig Drew (Skoda Fabia Rally2) 51m27s; 2 Paul MacKinnon/Paul Beaton (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +52s; 3 Mark Kelly/Neil Colman (Ford Fiesta R5); 4 Neil Simpson/Michael Gibson (Skoda Fabia Rally2); 5 Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta R5); 6 Simon Bowen/Richard Robinson (Ford Fiesta S2000T); 7 Steve Wood/Dale Bowen (Ford Fiesta WRC); 8 Joe Cunningham/Josh Beer (Ford Fiesta R5); 9 John Stone/Tom Woodburn (VW Polo GTi R5); 10 Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle (Ford Fiesta Rally2). Class winners: A: Mark and Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa); B: Bradley Howlett/Nick Vandevenne (Peugeot 208 R2); C: Neil Wearden/Mark Fisher (Hyundai i20 F2); D: Kyle Adam/ Stephen Brown (Ford Escort Mk2); E: Wayne Sisson/Peredur Davies (Mitsubishi Lancer E10); H: Mike Simpson/Dale Gibbons (Escort Mk1); W: Simpson/Gibson.
It can be a mission to go and see a rally car in full flight, but the rewards are always worthwhile. Those who have followed Rally GB in all of its guises know what delights await in the forests. There is something stark about seeing a burst of noise, speed and energy among the greenery. And a well-driven rally car can do nothing but stun the onlookers. We are on a mission to find out which rally cars have left the biggest impression on fans. We have picked out a shortlist of our 10 favourites, which was hard enough in itself and now we will hand the decision over to you. Simply visit the Motorsport News section on the fastcar.co.uk website to make your opinion count and check back with MN on March 31 to see the results.
At the beginning of this year, we didn’t have any plans for racing because we didn’t have the budget. But Graham Brunton, from Graham Brunton Racing, introduced us to Laser Tools Racing, who were already supporting Logan Hannah for GB4 this season. Graham mentioned that this could be an all-girl team with me joining Logan, and after taking a look at me, my media, and having a chat, Laser Tools Racing were onboard. That’s how my 2022 season got flipped upside down.
When I heard that the GB4 championship was coming about I kept an eye on it because I thought it sounded like a brilliant championship. Jonathan Palmer has created a championship that’s possible for people who can’t afford to compete in Formula 4. I’m really excited to start, and being on the British GT package will be incredible exposure and a fantastic experience.
Single-seaters has always been a dream of mine, especially if you asked 10-year-old me
I would have said my dream was racing in Formula 1. But when you step into the motorsport world you realise the realities and possibilities are more limited than you once thought.
However, there are other opportunities pointing down the route I want to go, like W Series. Now I am living my single-seater dream, and W Series is an achievable goal given consistent hard work and constant development.
Last year my sister, Lucy, raced Formula Ford with Graham Brunton so we were in the GBR garage with Lucy supporting her. I’ve definitely followed in Lucy’s footsteps. She’s always the one helping me and always by my side.
It’s quite funny because our dad actually did a little bit of karting the year before Lucy was born, but he didn’t tell us until years later. So when Lucy watched the Ayrton Senna movie and asked dad if she could race, he still had the phone number of someone he knew from his days on track. This was Hamish Clark, who ran Lucy for years and then me.
I was a young age when Lucy started racing and I went to all of her races, following her about Scotland, and took a liking to it so when I was finally old enough to race I asked if I could and luckily I got told yes.
I won several karting titles, and became the youngest to gain a Motorsport UK Junior Racing Driver License in Scotland and to become a Scottish Motor Racing Club
Rising Star.
Last year I won the Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship and raced in that. It was a brilliant experience, I met so many talented drivers and great people. I was in the industry of motorsport and I don’t think I would be doing what I am this year if I didn’t do that. It’s given me experience that I really really needed.
I would say my car control and racecraft developed massively last year. I also learned a lot from reviewing footage and data after testing and racing, which my driver coach, Gordie Mutch, analysed with me.
In my first JSCC race, I qualified 22nd but in the last meeting at Brands Hatch I finished seventh, so I’m definitely happy with my progression.
For 2022 I’ve got a pre-season testing programme that includes Silverstone and Donington Park. I know for my first race I’ll be so so nervous but I have the best team and support network around me, in GBR and my family. Podium finishes are what I’m hoping to achieve this year.
I feel like the GB4 car will be more similar to what I’m used to in karting: it’s a bit lighter, you feel it in each corner you go through. I’m still progressing and this year I’ll be learning more about the car and what I can do each lap by lap.
I want to develop as a driver and, ultimately, be the best I can be. I have a goal, and I know it will be hard work but worth absolutely everything we put in.