Rowlance duo give Metro 6R4 popular Wigan win
Organiser: Wigan & District MC When: October 7 Where: Three Sisters Race Circuit, Wigan Championships: ANWCC; AWMMC; 6r4.com Three Sisters Rally Challenge; SD34 Stages: 12 Starters: 43
Ian and Lynn Rowlance brought their MG Metro 6R4 to victory after long-term leaders John and Alex Stone were forced to retire their Ford Fiesta S2500 on the penultimate stage with a steering defect.
Tom Morris and Colin Harkness were second in their new Skoda Fabia S2500 after sorting some early gearbox issues. Brandon Smith and Chris Sharpe-simkiss completed the podium in their Darrian T90 GTR.
Mark Smith and Tim Nunn headed home a trio of Escort Mk2s in fourth. Andrew Morris and Chloe Thomas had to sort a fuel surge problem before finishing fifth ahead of Tom Blackwood and Gordon Winning.
Ryan Burns and Steve Hallmark replaced their Vauxhall Corsa’s alternator and finished in seventh place ahead of the Subaru Impreza of Nick Stamper and Matt Daniels.
John Darlington and Lauren Hewitt had to fix an intercom issue before finishing ninth in their Subaru Impreza.
Tenth place was enough to give Escort pairing Mark Rowlands and Richard Mason the Heart of England Championship title.
Results
1 Ian Rowlance/ Lynn Rowlance (MG Metro 6R4) 27m17s; 2 Tom Morris/ Colin Harkness (Skoda Fabia S2500) +37s; 3 Brandon Smith/ Chris Sharpe-simkiss (Darrian T90 GTR); 4 Mark Smith/tim Nunn (Ford Escort Mk2); 5 Andrew Morris/ Chloe Thomas (Escort Mk2); 6 Tom Blackwood/ Gordon Winning (Escort Mk2); 7 Ryan Burns/ Steve Hallmark (Vauxhall Corsa); 8 Nick Stamper/ Matt Daniels (Subaru Impreza); 9 John Darlington/ Lauren Hewitt (Subaru Impreza); 10 Mark Rowlands/ Richard Mason (Escort Mk2). Class winners: Richard Bromley/terry Martin (Vauxhall Nova); Burns/ Hallmark; Morris/thomas; Smith/ Nunn.