Plain sailing as crews snare points in Wales (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plain sailing as crews snare points in Wales

4:20pm Thursday 21st May 2009

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IT was plain sailing for the East Lancashire crews who contested round four of the BTRDA Rally Championship at the weekend.

For Ian Winstanley, Phil Scholes, Russ Thompson, Matt Griffin and James Ford all finished in the points on the Plains Rally, based in mid-Wales.

The highly-experienced pairing of Winstanley, from Trawden, and his Burnley-based co-driver Neil Bye won their class and claimed third overall in the Clubmans Rally in their BMW 325i, just 42 seconds adrift of winner Andy Davison.

“It was nice to be nearer the pace at the sharp end of the BMWs,” said Neil.

“We even managed to get a fastest stage time and at least we can hopefully shake off that sort of ‘those guys that used to be quick’ tag!”

Fifth overall and another class win went to Slaidburn’s Russ Thompson and Ashley Trimble, who are contesting this year's Peugeot Challenge.

John Easson Award winner Phil Scholes, from Blackburn, and Jamie Foster claimed fifth in class, second expert and 11th overall driving their brand new Peugeot 205GTi.

“I think Phil was slightly disappointed as he really went out to win, but it was important to get a finish,” explained his dad, Rob.

“The car was brand new and Phil hasn’t driven in anger since the Tour of Mull seven months ago, so all in all it was a decent result.”

Their team-mates, James Ford and Charlie Woodward had a steady run to 17th overall and 10th in class in a similar RVL Motorsport-prepared 205GTi.

Fourth in class and 61st overall was enough to put Blackburn’s Matt Griffin up to second place in the drivers table in the Rally First 1.4 class.

“I had a great battle throughout the rally with Roy Gravestock swapping places almost on every stage,” said Griffin, who was driving VW Lupo with Joe Cruttenden.

“This culminated on the last stage, the Woodyard, where I started the stage three seconds ahead of Roy, but on the last corner, 50 metres from the finish I got a puncture and lost six seconds.

“I managed to drive out of the stage, but the delay cost me third. This is my second tyre failure in as many rallies and we are getting to be expert at changing wheels fast!”

* Matt Griffin would like to thank John Goff of Shropshire Rallyschool for the loan of the VW Lupo. Phil Scholes would like to thank the 2300 Club of Blackburn for paying his entry as part of the John Easson Scholarship, his sponsors, the Millennium Coupling Company of Preston, Tyres South Shore, of Blackpool, Intack Motor Services of Blackburn, FX Pools and Spas of Worston, Plastics Direct Manchester and the support of Tim Foster, Ken Cooper, Rob Tomlinson and Steve Pollard.

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