Payne makes perfect start in BRC warm-up
Behind commanding winner Elliot Payne, the modern section of the Riponian was just as competitive as the historics as five seconds covered the next three competitors.
A number of crews used the North Yorkshire event as an early season warmup and none did it better than Payne and Tom Woodburn who swept to a crushing victory on Payne’s home event as the perfect lead in to his challenge for the British Rally Championship.
Aside from the opening stage in Gale Rigg, Payne’s Fiesta Rally2 was quickest on the remaining five stages and typically took a second a mile from his pursuers. “We had a problem on the first stage when we spun it on the uphill hairpin right, but we claimed the time back in Cropton and Wass and then just held it,” said Payne as he set himself up for what could be a very important season.
It took a tie-break to split Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia Rally2) from Alastair Ginley/Craig Thorley (Fiesta Rally2) at the end of the day. Both dropped time on the first run through Wass, with Ginley struggling at a chicane, but a Brunton charge on the second Wass drew him level and he took the place on the basis of the better time on SS1. Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson were five seconds back in their Fiesta Rally2.
Gravel newcomer Joe Cunningham with Josh Beer in their Fiesta R5 lost half a minute when red flagged on the first stage but was top seven thereafter as he adapted to gravel in style. Best of the two-wheel drives was a mighty performance from Ben Cree and Robert Wiggins in their Corsa.
Results
1 Elliot Payne/Tom Woodburn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 41m40s; 2 Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia Rally2) +46s; 3 Alastair Ginley/Craig Thorley (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4 Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 5 Charles Payne/Carl Williamson (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 6 Alan Carmichael/Arthur Kierans (Hyundai i20 R5); 7 Joe Cunningham/Josh Beer (Ford Fiesta R5); 8 Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Mitsubishi Lancer E9); 9 Ian Joel/Graeme Wood (Ford Escort); 10 Steve Black/James Aldridge (Ford Fiesta Rally2). Class winners: Ben Cree/Robert Wiggins (Opel Corsa); Anthony Hanson/Russell Holdsworth (Vauxhall Chevette); Will Midgley/ Chris Slater (Toyota Corolla); David Wallbank/Thomas Wallbank (Ford Escort Mk2); Mick Smith/Paul Stringer (Mini Cooper S); Max Crowther/Phil Bramma (VW Lupo).