Home Page > News & Rally Reports > BRC Post Ulster International Rally

BRC Post Ulster International Rally

Posted on Monday, 03 September 2007 10:14AM by

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE 02/09/2007

Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship

Round four - Ulster International Rally

31st August - 1st September 2007

Mark Higgins and Rory Kennedy took victory on the Ulster International Rally this weekend, moving them into the lead of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.

Their second victory of the season puts them just a few points ahead of their team-mate Wyn Humphreys in the similar Stobart TEG Sport Impreza. “We need as many wins as possible,” said Mark at the finish, “because the Championship allows two dropped scores at the end of the season and Guy (Wilks) is still ahead if you take that into account now.”

Second, after Wilks retired from the lead with transmission failure, was his Mitsubishi Motors UK team-mate Gwyndaf Evans. His second consecutive runner-up spot moves him ahead of Wilks but there is just three points separating third to fifth places.

Philip Morrow returned to the series with his Evo Challenge assault and managed a fine third place, his second of the year. His accomplishment was also rewarded with the Pirelli Star Driver award. This will add him to the list of finalists at the end of season shoot-out for a drive in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.

Conrad Rautenbach took fourth and the Rally 3 win in his Citroen C2 S1600 while Rob Swann’s fifth place moved his into a fine third in the BRC points table. Wyn Humphreys meanwhile, had a fraught event, losing gears in his Stobart TEG Sport Subaru. He managed sixth, dropping him behind Higgins but still thirteen points clear of Swann.

Rally 2 was won by James Wozencroft in the Dealer Team Suzuki Swift, but it was after the demise of Matt Beebe whose excellent run ended on the penultimate stage with engine failure. Lorna Smith was third behind George Thomas, taking her battered Suzuki to the podium and with it securing the win in the Irish N2 class.

George Thomas took Citroen C2R2 Cup honours from Martin Laverty, both stating that they were on a mission to just get to the finish. Jason Pritchard still heads the series despite finishing behind Isle of Man winner and third placed Martin Roberts. Kazutomo Kusama is deserved of mention too, getting his C2R2 to the finish for the first time, one place behind Roberts.

Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship round four Ulster International Rally Final Classification
Pos	Driver / Codriver	Car	Time
1	MARK HIGGINS / RORY KENNEDY	SUBARU IMPREZA	2:00:19.6
2	GWYNDAF EVANS / HUW LEWIS	MITSUBISHI EVO 9	2:01:19.6
3	PHILIP MORROW / SIMON MORROW	MITSUBISHI EVO 9	2:05:11.6
4	CONRAD RAUTENBACH / DAVID SENIOR	CITROEN C2 S1600	2:07:10.7
5	ROBERT SWANN / DARREN GARROD	SUBARU IMPREZA	2:09:23.5
6	WYN HUMPHREYS / ALLY MACKAY	SUBARU IMPREZA	2:11:24.9
7	ROB GILL / ANDERS HOWARD	MITSUBISHI EVO 9	2:16:44.2
8	JAMES WOZENCROFT / CHRIS RIDGE	SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT	2:17:02.1
9	NICK KENNY / GEORGE GWYNN	SUBARU IMPREZA	2:17:36.1
10	CONNOR MCCLOSKEY / ROBBIE DURANT	MITSUBISHI EVO 9	2:18:37.8*
* denotes competitors who used Super Rally rules

Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship Provisional Drivers’ points after round four
Pos	Name	Total
1	Mark Higgins	59
2	Wyn Humphreys	56
3	Robert Swann	43
4	Gwyndaf Evans	42
5	Guy Wilks	41
6	Conrad Rautenbach	37
7	Lorna Smith	34
8=	Darren Gass	32
8=	Phillip Morrow	32
10	Rob Gill	30

Championship contact: Mark Taylor M: +44 7767 377600T: +44 1785 887988 E: marktaylor@rallybrc.co.uk
Press contact: Simon Moss M: +44 7968 585534 T: +44 1785 887988 E: simonmoss@rallybrc.co.uk
Further information on the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship can be found at www.rallybrc.co.uk