EDWARDS SNARES BRC CHAMPIONSHIP
Back-to-back BRC crowns for Ford Fiesta R5 driver after playing it safe. By John Fife
This year’s British Rally Championship title was decided on the sixth and final round of the season, on the so-called ‘Run to the Hills’ between two young men – one with a very steep hill to climb, and the other already pretty much at the summit.
Matt Edwards and Patrick Walsh, leaders heading into the event, took the canny approach in Scotland and their third place finish on the Galloway Hills Rally ensured back-to-back British titles.
Tom Cave and Dale Bowen did what they had to do, knowing full well that they were dependent on Edwards striking trouble but victory for them still wasn’t enough. “Bridesmaid again,” said Cave. “Seems to be the story of my life these days.”
Not that Edwards had it easy. Concern was showing on his face at the end of the first two very slippery, overgrown, green and technical tests in Dalbeattie Forest, last used for rallying six years ago.
When pressed, all he would admit to was a small steering issue with his Ford Fiesta R5, but it cost him nearly a minute to the determined Cave in his Hyundai i20 R5.
Over the next six stages, Cave continued to set the pace – finishing the day with a clean sweep of all eight fastest stage times. Jonny Greer and Dai Roberts were equally convincing in their Fiesta R5. “There’s no pressure on me today, I’m just here to enjoy the rally,” said Greer, as he set seven second fastest stage times.
A pretty emphatic runner-up position was the result, but behind him there was no desire from Edwards to take on the Northern Irishman. Outwardly as calm as a Welsh choir, Edwards admitted to nerves before the rally and on the road sections, but: “Once I get into the stages, the concentration takes over – these stages are not straightforward.” Edwards finished over two minutes behind Greer but in a secure and risk-free third place. Job done. Championship won.
There were no heroics behind him either. Their first time in the Fiesta R5, James Wilson and Arthur Kierans were delighted with fourth place. “This was new territory for me and a new car,” said Wilson.
“I had a test on Thursday and just took it very steady today, I ran my own rally. I’m still new to 4WD and this is only my third outing in an R5 car and my first run out in the Fiesta.”
Not so fortunate were Alex Laffey and Stuart Loudon after their Fiesta R5 exited the second stage on three wheels. “I hit a rock in the long grass and the impact sheared off a wheel and brake disc,” said Laffey. “We replaced the wheel OK but ran for the rest of the day with braking only on three wheels.” Ian Bainbridge also fell foul of the slippery conditions in Dalbeattie, retiring his Skoda Fabia R5 with radiator damage after sliding off the road.
That meant two Junior crews finished fifth and sixth, with William Creighton in his Peugeot 208 finishing ahead of Marty Gallagher in his Fiesta R2T.
Northern Ireland’s Alan Carmichael scored seventh in his i20 R5 just ahead of the top NRC competitor, local driver Richard Dickson in his Subaru Impreza. Finlay Retson in his Fiesta R2T and the i20 R5 of Enda Mccormack rounded off the top 10.
This may have been Cave’s rally, but it was Edwards’s title. “This means as much to me as it did last year,” said Edwards. “I still had to drive quite hard, you have to, to make these cars work and it was loaded up with spares!
“Thanks to M-sport and Patrick [Walsh], this was a real team effort.”
Cave surmised Edwards’s and his own season-long performances: “First and second in the British Championship – not bad for two Welsh boys.”