GOODWOOD GLORY FOR HUCKLEBRIDGE DUO AFTER A DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN IN WEST SUSSEX

A dramatic climax to a fierce fourway battle at Goodwood ended with Ian and Oliver Hucklebridge take their first-ever South Downs Stages victory by nine seconds.

Long-time leaders Richard Weaver and James Pink spun their Mitsubishi Lancer E6 on the final stage, losing 15s and handing victory to the Ford Escort Mk2 crew. Until then, Hucklebridge’s determined harrying of his rivals proved key and with his car running problem-free, his pace was consistently high.

In gloomy conditions but with a drying wind, Hucklebridge, Weaver, Ed Fossey/Steve Hobbs and Tony Robinson/Paul Spooner swapped fastest or equal-fastest times for the opening four tests, never more than six seconds apart. Weaver survived a split turbo pipe and a flat shift mechanism problem but kept the lead. Then on SS8, run in the dark, he misjudged the approach to a chicane and the resulting spin cost him victory.

One second behind in third, Fossey continued to learn his new Proton Satria Millington; the car ran faultlessly, allowing Fossey to use its power and grip to set four fastest stage times and just hold off Robinson. Robinson’s Skoda Fabia R5 held equal first place after SS1, dropped back slightly in the middle stages but stayed well clear of a strong drive from fifth-placed Chris White/Jason Harris.

Results

Organisers: Southsea Motor Club and Bognor Regis Motor Club When: December 3 Where:

Goodwood circuit, Sussex Championships: ACSMC, ASEMC and AEMC. Stages: 8 Starters:

1 Ian Hucklebridge/Oliver Hucklebridge (Ford

Escort Mk2) 38m28s; 2 Richard Weaver/James Pink (Mitsubishi Lancer E6) +9s; 3 Ed Fossey/Steve Hobbs (Proton Satria Millington); 4 Tony Robinson /Paul Spooner (Skoda Fabia R5); 5 Chris White/ Jason Harris (Ford Escort Mk2); 6 Robert Hayter/ Alistair Crossley (Subaru Impreza); 7 Chris Butcher/ Jaime-Lee Fox (Nissan Sunny F2); 8 Tim Mewett/ Liz Jordan (Escort Mk2); 9 Christopher Newton/ Anthony Newton (Vauxhall Nova); 10 Tom Bishop/ Isobel Mansell (Vauxhall Nova). Class winners: Newton/Newton; Bryan Cherrett/Jack Cherrett (Peugeot 106); White/Harris; Mark Harris/Darren Matthews (Escort Mk2) Weaver/Pink.