HOPKINS STRETCHES HIS LEGS FOR CORINIUM VICTORY
Philip Hopkins proved the Mitsubishi Lancer E6 is still a force to be reckoned with by mounting a final-stage charge that outpaced daylong rival Will Nicholls’s Ford Fiesta R5 to win the Corinium Stages at Down Ampney by six seconds.
In dry, sunny but dusty conditions, Hopkins gelled quickly with new co-driver Sam Allen to hold third place and challenge both Nicholls and early leaders Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell’s Skoda Fabia. Dennis’s powerful drive came to an end on stage six with a double puncture which meant it was open season for the lead. Driving on the limit and finishing with several dented panels, Hopkins took his first Down
Ampney victory.
Nicholls netted second place after a solid drive. A fourth-stage spin that cost 10s was his only mistake as he continued to get used to his ex- Martyn England Fiesta after many years in Subarus.
Third-placed England’s brand new Fiesta Rally2 went as fast as it looked.
After narrowly avoiding hitting a chicane on stage two – “we left skid marks for 50 yards beforehand,” he said later – he never dropped below fifth fastest on any stage. Despite having to push start their Ford Escort Mk2 all day due to a broken starter motor, Thomas Davies/ Daniel Petrie produced a stunning drive to take fourth.
Changing from soft to medium compound tyres increased their speed and confidence on every stage, culminating in stopping the clocks 15s faster than Chris White/Jason Harris’s twolitre Ford Escort Mk2 on stage eight to win Class D and they were the top twowheel-drive pairing.
Brake problems and getting a cone stuck under their Escort on the opening stage failed to deter Dean Davies/Cameron Wheatley from taking sixth place and second in Class C, after a close day-long scrap with Graham Davies/Rhys Edwards (Darrian T9).
Organisers: Cirencester Car Club When: April 30 Where: Down
Ampney Airfield, Gloucestershire Championships: ACSMC; ASWMC Sealed Surface; Cotswold MSG Stages:
8 Starters: 50
1 Philip Hopkins/Sam Allen (Mitsubishi Lancer E6) 59m19s; 2 Will Nicholls/Nick Broom (Ford Fiesta R5) +6s; 3 Martyn England/Dawn England (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4 Thomas Davies/Daniel Petrie (Ford Escort Mk2); 5 Chris White/Jason Harris (Ford Escort Mk2); 6 Dean Davies/ Cameron Wheatley (Ford Escort Mk2); 7 Graham Davies/Rhys Edwards (Darrian T9); 8 Marc Mayes/James Davies (Vauxhall Nova); 9 Adrian Griffiths/ Karolina Kunigiskyte (Renault Clio); 10 Ian Ross/Lucy Pitch (Ford Escort Mk2). Class winners: Stephen Pritchard/ Emma Clarke (Vauxhall Nova), Mayes/ Davies, White/Harris, Davies/ Petrie, Nicholls/Broom.