MOTOR SPORT

Five West Cumbria Motorsport Club crews travelled over to Northumberland last Sunday to the Otturburn Army Barracks to take part in the Tyneside Stages Rally.

A wet and windy Sunday was promised and that is what we got and a mixed bag of results for the five crews with all but one finishing the rally and one coming third overall. 

Sean O'Neill and Ryan Winthrop in the Astra only made it about half way round the first stage. Then a wrong call from Ryan, saw Sean head into a tight right hand bend  way, way to fast putting the Astra well into the undergrowth and ending their rally. Both were just a bit shaken up.
Sian Beatty/Julianne Antrobus in the KA drove a clean and tidy rally and with no major problems finished 27th O/A.

Willie Jarman/Mark Fisher in the Escort Cozy struggled with anti lag problems all day and with a puncture and nearly going out on the very last stage were pleased to finish 17th O/A,.

Geoff Wilson/Simon Martin in the Blue Mk 2 Escort had an excellent rally and with no real problems to report brought the Mk 2 home 10th O/A and 1st in Class, beating many four wheel drive cars.

But the drive of the rally must go to the father and son duo from Lamplugh, Richard and Edwin Cook in their Astra, who are pictured in full cry above. 

They have competed in this event before and had good results but this means nothing on Otturburn as the organizers change the route every year.

When you are put up against four wheel drive Scooby's and take ten seconds out of them and in some stages 20 seconds, in a car that is not only a two wheel drive but misfiring as well you must be shifting - and they were.

Going into the last set of stages they were lying second overall but after going over a crest the car got a bit sideward's, backwards and nearly hit a Marshall’s car which lost them around 20 seconds.

They carried on and in a final stage of torrential rain brought the Astra home 3rd O/A and 1st in Class. 

West Cumbria Motorsport Club will be holding their annual Bannockburn P.C.T on Sunday starting at 10.30 on the field just off the Branthwaite Road. There are more details on their website, www.wcmcrallying.co.uk.

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