A BLACK DAY IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS
The tragic events on the Jim Clark Rally, leading to the deaths of three people and injuries to a number of others, have cast a shadow over the the sport as a whole. As various enquiries by the authorities are underway, we must await their findings but, in the meantime, remind ourselves that the rally is unique in mainland UK and is also one of the most popular in the calendar. Even as the dust has started to settle, we send our condolences to all those affected and, indeed, to the rally organisers whose lives will have been turned upside down by what, on the face of it, appears to have been a genuine accident.
The rally was stopped with two stages to go, with the results based on positions at that point. In the National event Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC) were leading at the time, with Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Focus WRC 05) second and Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta S2400) third. The top three places in the Asphalt Championship did not alter and, after a break of a few weeks, we look forward to moving across the water to Ireland and the ALMC Stages in early July.
A suitably tailored record of the progress of REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship contenders on the Jim Clark National Rally has been produced by ‘Special Stage’ and is due for initial broadcast at 9.00pm this evening (Friday 13th June).
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS.
The results of the Jim Clark National Rally were declared final on 12th June and, based on them, the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship points have been circulated. They are also available on http://www.asphaltrallying.co.uk and, if you have any queries, please contact the Championship Coordinator before midday on 20th June when they will go final.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Round 4: ALMC Stages (6th July)
Our first trip of the season to the Emerald Isle is fast approaching. Details are available on the event website http://www.almcstagesrally.com For those of you who have not competed in Ireland before, don’t forget your BRDS Insurance letter, available to download from the Motorsport Ireland website. Based at the Castle Arch Hotel, in Trim, the rally consists of three stages, run three times, totalling 75 miles. The finish is such that, should you wish to get back home, there will be sufficient time to get to Dublin for onward ferries and planes on Sunday evening.
Round 5: Wilkinson Maintenance Tyneside Stages (3rd August)
Regulations are available to download from http://www.tynesidestages.co.uk. The event features 90 miles, in 12 stages, on the Otterburn Ranges, with a slow-speed recce of the route on the Saturday. With the closure of two of the larger hotels in Otterburn in the past eighteen months, accommodation in the area will be at a premium and you will be well advised to sort this element of the event out sooner, rather than later!
Round 6: Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally (24th August). Please see the following press release issued by the organisers:
Epynt Motor Club is delighted to welcome the Old Forge Garage, incorporating Dennis Motor Sport, as sponsors of the Mewla Rally. This family-run business by father and son, Brian and Tim Dennis is no stranger to motor sport. Brian has been rallying Minis for over forty years whilst Tim, who started on two wheels, now hill-climbs one of the very special Minis run by Dennis Motor Sport. The Old Forge Garage has for many years been associated with the Gremlin Rally, going back to the days of the Motoring News Championship. We hope this new association with the Mewla Rally will be as long and special. Plans for this year’s August Bank Holiday weekend Mewla Rally are well underway. The event will consist of 80 stage miles over 14 stages on the Epynt Ranges. The entry fee is held at the 2013 price of £345.
The service area will once again be situated on Mabion’s Way. As the centre road is unavailable, this means that we can make full use of all the challenging roads that Epynt has to offer, including the German Village. The rally is a qualifying round of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, Quantum King of Epynt, Steve Harkness Welsh National Tarmacadam Championship, the ANWCC Stage Rally Championship and the Millington RWD Challenge.
The winning crew of the Road Rally class on this year’s Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally will receive a free entry on the 2014 DG Jones Agri Ltd Powys Lanes Rally. The event, which is also organised by Epynt Motor Club, will be held on 8/9th November. It will be based in Builth Wells with a
110-mile route on maps 147 and 148. The Powys Lanes Rally was voted Best Event in the WAMC Road Rally Championship last year.
Regulations for the Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally will be available in mid June to download from http://www.epyntmc.co.uk or please contact the Entry
Secretaries, Keith and Trina Edwards, Tel 01982 551246
Andrew Haill
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