RallyRoots Rally Results Service - Red Kite Stages 2001

Red Kite Stages 2001

Sponsored by Chequered Flag Models of Swansea

Amman & District Motor Club

6th January 2001

Clerk of the Course: Gareth Thomas

Stages: 11 (45 Stage Miles)

Venue: Epynt, Crychan & Halfway

Starters: 32

Winners: Wynne Pickersgill/Shaun O’Gorman (Subaru Impreza)

Winners: Wynne Pickersgill/Shaun O’Gorman (Subaru Impreza)

Wynne Pickersgill/Shaun O'Gorman made a good start to their 2001 season by taking victory in their Subaru Impreza on the Red Kite Stages. However, having fought a tight battle with daylong leaders Graham Middleton/John Morgan, they left it until the last of the event's eleven stages to take the lead.

The Amman & District MC rally was a new event on the Welsh calendar and used the gravel tracks on the Epynt Ranges and the army-owned sections of Halfway and Crychan Forests.

The rally was well received by competitors with a high standard of organisation, smooth roads and a compact route.

After seven stages Middleton/Morgan had managed to eek out a 17 second lead in their Hyundai Kit Car, however Pickersgill/O'Gorman then took fastest times on the remaining four stages to come home six seconds clear.

Robert Swann/Ken Bowman were the only crew to match the leaders' pace, but were principally using the rally as a test session in preparation for an assault on the BTRDA Production Cup. After a morning of trying out different suspension settings on their Mitsubishi Lancer they finished the rally in third place.

Paul Alexander/Mike Panes entered the event as a shake down for the following month's Wyedean and were justly pleased to bring their Peugeot 106 into fourth place at the Finish.

Julian Reynolds/Ieaun Thomas had held fourth in their Honda Civic with one stage to go, but an off on the final test cost them a minute and a place.

The over 2000cc class was taken by the Escort of Martin Kenny/Steve Quine, who survived a spin on Stage Six , to come home eleventh overall.

Meanwhile the Under 1300cc award fell to Gary Barlow/Alex Reynolds, who were getting acquainted with their newly acquired Astra prior to competing in that season's Formula First series.

Geraint Mills/Johnny 'Tad' Evans were debuting their newly acquired Ford Sapphire Cosworth. Unfortunately their rally ended in a ditch on Stage Two in Halfway.

Second Placed: Graham Middleton/John Morgan (Hyundai Kit Car)

Mandy Roberts/Cliff Simmons broke a timing belt on their Peugeot 106 on Stage Six. That stage also the demise of Michael Jones/Ian Harrop, who went off the road at the flying finish of the stage, while Ed Lloyd/Ian Moseley crashed their TR8 on the penultimate stage.

Ben Briant had Blue Peter presenter Connie Huq as co-driver in his Astra, she was collecting signatures for a license upgrade in preparation for an attempt on the Swedish Rally. A very steady run saw them finish 27th and last, but this meant that the vital signature was collected from the C-of-C.

OVERALL RESULTS