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2022/04 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2022/03 - Legend Fires North West Stages Rally
2022/02 - East Riding Stages Rally
2021/10 - Pokerstars Rally
2021/09 - 3 Shires Rally
2021/08 - Mewla Rally
2021/07 - SMC Altratech Stages
2021/07 - ND Civils Lee Holland Stages Rally
2021/05 - Neil Howard Stages Rally
2021/04 - Snetterton Stages Rally
2020/12 - Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally
2020/09 - Abingdon Stages Rally
2020/03 - Tilemaster Lee Holland Stages Rally
2019/11 - PD Extinguishers Hall Trophy Rally
2019/11 - Neil Howard Stages Rally
2019/09 - Cheviot Rally
2019/08 - Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally
2018/06 - Rally van Wervik
2018/05 - Manx National Rally
2018/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2017/08 - Harry Flatters Rally
2017/07 - Enville Stages Anglesey Race Circuit
2017/05 - Warcop Ranges Rally
2017/04 - BG Landrover Dixies Challenge Rally
2016/08 - Harry Flatters Rally
2016/05 - Dixies Historic Rally Challenge
2016/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2016/02 - Jack Neal Stages Rally
2015/11 - Neil Howard Memorial Rally
2015/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2014/11 - Neil Howard Memorial Rally
2014/08 - Tyneside Stages Rally
2014/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2013/09 - Patriot Stages Rally
2013/08 - Mewla Rally
2013/08 - Tyneside Stages Rally
2013/07 - ALMC Rally
2013/05 - Jim Clark Rally
2013/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2012/11 - Neil Howard Memorial Rally
2012/11 - Cheviot Rally
2012/08 - Mewla Rally
2012/07 - Tyneside Stages Rally
2012/06 - Jim Clark Rally
2012/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2011/10 - Cheviot Rally
2011/08 - Mewla Rally
2011/07 - Tyneside Stages Rally
2011/05 - Manx National Rally
2011/03 - Tour of Epynt
2010/09 - Mewla Rally
2010/08 - Tyneside Stages Rally
2010/05 - Epynt Mini Stages
2009/10 - Cheviot Keith Knox Rally
2009/09 - Patriot Stages Rally Caerwent
2009/08 - Mewla Rally
2009/03 - Tour of Caerwent Rally
2009/02 - Auto Fix Tour of Epynt Rally
2008/10 - Cheviot Rally Otterburn
2008/08 - Mewla Rally
2008/07 - Sligo Stages Rally
2008/05 - Jim Clark National Rally
2008/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2008/02 - C & A Slaters Stages Rally
2007/11 - Keith Knox Stages Rally
2007/08 - Mewla Rally
2007/05 - Millbrook National Rally
2007/03 - Tour of Epynt Rally
2007/03 - Horiba D'Isis
2006/10 - Mull Rally
2006/06 - Weeton Rally
2006/04 - Weeton Stages
2006/04 - Horiba D'Isis
2006/04 - Mira Rally
2006/03 - Menai Stages
2005/11 - Glyn Memorial Rally
2005/10 - Keith A Wood Rally
2005/09 - SRM Hall Trophy Rally
2005/07 - Promenade Stages
2005/06 - Weeton Stages
2005/05 - Proflex Rally
2005/04 - Horiba D'Isis
2005/04 - Lee Holland Trophy Rally
2004/11 - Glyn Memorial Rally
2004/10 - Keith Wood Stages
2004/07 - Promenade Stages
2016/05 - Dixies Historic Rally Challenge
(0 images) - created by
Adge
on 10/05/2016 at 13:31:16
So after having a good run on the Tour of Epynt, it was decided to enter the next round of the King of Epynt championship, the Dixies Historic Rally. Held over a shorter compact route with only one recce run over the stages, knowledge would be at a premium. The rally was also a round of the Historic Rally championship, so featured lots of older cars including a Ferrari 308 GTB which was a very rare sight to see on British tarmac. Seeded at car 3 Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt in Adrian's ex works Prodrive built Subaru Impreza S11 WRC car the pair were looking forward to the challenge. Seeded at 1 was last years winner Phil Turner in his recently acquired EVO 9 and Andy Fraser in his Darrian was seeded at 2. Behind Adrian and Mark was Geoff Kitney in his Evo 6.
The day started off dry and sunny which looked liked the Darrian of Andy Fraser would be their main rival, however by the time the rally started it had begun to rain, which improved Adrian and Marks chances against the 2 wheel drive Darrian, but rallying can be a cruel sport and Andy Fraser was forced to retire before the start of the 1st stage with driveshaft failure. With the rain falling consistently and looking set for the day at least it made tyre choice easy with Adrian and Mark opting for wets.
The 1st loop consisted of 2 stages approx each 4 miles long and with conditions slippy Adrian made the most of the 4 wheel drive traction and set 2 fastest times to open an eight second lead over Phil Turner. The 2nd loop consisted of a repeat of the 1st 2 stages and Adrian beginning to get to grips with the conditions again set the fastest times to increase his lead to 19 seconds.
Stages 5 and 6 followed and again Adrian set the fastest times to increase his lead, however some warnings that a shaft had broken caused some worrying moments, but this just turned out to be a dicky sensor which the boys in service quickly sorted.
Stages 7 and 8 were repeats of 5 & 6 and with another couple of fasted times increased their lead over Phil Turner who in turn was starting to come under a bit of pressure from Geoff Kitney.
Stages 9 & 10 and Adrian still set the pace even when having to vitually stop on stage 9 when avoiding a couple of sheep who were standing on the narrow bridge on the way down to Four Ways and then a slight off on stage 10 losing little time but sharpening the concentration, however they still set the fastest times for the stages.
With only 2 stages to go the pressure was on to get to the end with no more drama's and take their 1st win in the car. This proved easier said than done when on stage 11 they passed a mini parked on its roof, fortunately the crew were OK and with a steady run due to the big lead they took the win.
So after 10 years Adrian and Mark finally took their 2nd rally win of their career and in convincing style with 12 fastest times from 12 stages to win by 1 min 13 sec. In 2nd place was Phil Turner, last years winner who hung on from Geoff Kitney in 3rd. A well run rally over a compact route on the challenging roads of the Epynt ranges.
This win moves Adrian and Mark into the lead of the King of Epynt championship, however with some of the big boys away at the Manx rally and with only 3 out of 5 rallies to count, this may not be the case at the end of the year, but who knows.
The team are now readying the car for the next round, the Mini Epynt stages at the beginning of June.