News
Martin Roberts takes first 2008 award
The International Rally Drivers Club is pleased to announce a continuation of its Performance Award initiative in conjunction with the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. The scheme, which was won by Steve Graham in 2007, is designed to recognise and reward championship contenders who show the greatest improvement in performance between rounds.
The performance is determined by a tried and tested algorithm that takes the stage times of each competitor and determines their improvement on performance on subsequent rounds. Consequently, the performance on the Pirelli International Rally was used as the benchmark for the performances on the Jim Clark International Rally.
Martin Roberts is in his second year contesting the Citroën C2R2 Cup, leading last year after the Isle of Man, he has gone one better and leads the series going to the Manx event. His position after the Borders event has also netted him the first IRDC Performance Award, just reward for his efforts.
The Staffordshire driver has proved his consistently good pace by finishing on the podium on the opening two rounds, but will have to continue to push hard, as just four points separate the top four Citroëns.
Background
The IRDC competitor performance database has been providing performance data for rallies since the 1980?s. This year the system will continue to be used to measure the performance improvement for each registered crew following each round of the championship. The crew that shows the greatest improvement in their performance will be awarded up to £200 at each round.
IRDC most improved BRC round 1-2
1 Martin Roberts
2 Ross Forde
3 Fin McCaul
4= Matt Cotton
4= Steve Graham
6 Karl Simmons
7 Luke Pinder
8 Gordon Nichol
9 Martin McCormack
10 Adam Gould
27th June, 2008
16:00 PIRELLI RALLY SERVICE IN
1 Mitsubishi Motors UK
Driver: Guy Wilks (GB)
Co-driver: Phillip Pugh (GB)
Now playing a safe game, trying to maintain a reasonable pace without losing concentration. Had a bit of a scare on the last stage when he came across a fallen small tree on the stage.
2 Driver: Mark Higgins (GB)
Co-driver: Rory Kennedy (IRL)
Stopped in stage 10 with engine related problems.
3 Driver: Juho Hanninen (FIN)
Co-driver: Mikko Markkula (FIN)
Finding the stage quite rough but everything going OK. Has found the experience good for future rallies such as GB, Portugal and Greece.
4 Team TQ.com
Driver: David Higgins (GB)
Co-driver: Ieuan Thomas (GB)
Made improvements to the suspension as the event has progressed and the car is handling much better now.
5 Atlas TEG Sport
Driver: Patrik Flodin (S)
Co-driver: Goran Bergsten (S)
Lost boost on stages 10 and 11. Car is down on torque and not pulling well. Thinks he has lost 30-40 seconds.
6 Mitsubishi Motors UK
Driver: Phillip Morrow (GB)
Co-driver: Daniel Barritt (GB)
Lost fourth & fifth gears in last three stages.
7 Driver: Stuart Jones (GB)
Co-driver: Andy Bull (GB)
8 Driver: Eyvind Brynildsen (NOR)
Co-driver: Maria Andersson (S)
9 Revolution Wheels Rally Team
Driver: Robert Swann (GB)
Co-driver: Darren Garrod (GB)
Had puncture in SS11 and twisted rear suspension. Also came across debris on the stage.
10 Driver: Darren Gass (GB)
Co-driver: Neil Shanks (GB)
Continuing to gain confidence in the car and improve.
11 Atlas TEG Sport
Driver: Wyn Humphreys (GB)
Co-driver: Robert Fagg (GB)
Going better but thought the tyres went off in one stage. Came across some stricken National runners in the stage.
15 Driver: Jonathan Greer (GB)
Co-driver: Jonny Hart (GB)
All OK, picking his way through the stages now, gaining confidence with the car.
16 Driver: James Wozencroft (GB)
Co-driver: Chris Ridge (GB)
Ran wide to avoid obstacle in the road and sustained a puncture and had to run six miles on it. losing chunks of time.
19 Team TQ.com
Driver: Hugh Evans (GB)
Co-driver: Iestyn Williams (GB)
Relieved to be back in the rally after the off earlier in the day.
20 Driver: Andreas Sjolander (S)
Co-driver: Hakan Jacobsson (S)
Taking it easy now to get the car to the finish.
22 Driver: Joakim Nyman (S)
Co-driver: Bjorn Nissson (S)
Still running
23 Driver: Brian O'Mahony (IRL)
Co-driver: John Higgins (IRL)
Reported stopped in stage reason unknown.
25 Driver: Barry Clark (GB)
Co-driver: Scott Martin (GB)
Stopped in stage ten reason unknown.
26 Driver: Adam Gould (GB)
Co-driver: Tim Line (GB)
Bent rear beam in stage ten but service have one ready to replace it
27 Driver: David Meredith (GB)
Co-driver: Dai Roberts (GB)
Still running with running repairs holding up after yesterday?s puncture damage.
28 Driver: Simon Harraway (GB)
Co-driver: Craig Drew (GB)
Using today as a test session but spending time dodging rocks.
30 Driver: Dale Robertson (GB)
Co-driver: Paul Beaton (GB)
31 Driver: Melis Charalambous (GR)
Co-driver: Andrew Roughead (GB)
Ran wide on a corner and caught a small tree but got away with it had a big moment when too fast on high speed section but just caught it.
32 Driver: Martin McCormack (IRL)
Co-driver: Liam Moynihan (IRL)
Punctured in SS11 and broke bumper driving on it for the final mile of the stage.
35 Driver: Martin Roberts (GB)
Co-driver: Rich Mills (GB)
Two punctures on the rough stages then had a misfire on the road section. Backed right off now.
36 Driver: Andrew Hockridge (GB)
Co-driver: Tony Derrick (GB)
37 Driver: Nathan O'Connor (GB)
Co-driver: Jessica Rogan (GB)
Retired with multiple punctures.
38 Driver: Luke Pinder (GB)
Co-driver: Kim Baker (GB)
Started today under Super Rally and spending the day learning the car. Problem was discovered to be a loose connection inside the coil wiring. Starting to catch cars now.
40 Driver: Steve Graham (GB)
Co-driver: Tony Graham (GB)
The team are still going and are both members of the International Rally Drivers Club
41 Driver: Fin McCaul (IRL)
Co-driver: TBA
Nearly went off when after he passed O?Mahony and realised he then led class R3.
43 Driver: Gordon Nichol (GB)
Co-driver: Jane Nicol (GB)
Punctured on SS10, dropping seven minutes. Held up in SS11 by some slower cars.
45 Driver: Ross Forde (IRL)
Co-driver: Arron Forde (IRL)
Pushed hard on last four stages after missing the recce
46 Driver: Nick Rowland (GB)
Co-driver: Tim Sturla (GB)
Taking it easy in the rough stages and suffering with a wheel that has pushed back into the arch.
47 Driver: Niki Bjerg (DK)
Co-driver: Arly Larsen (DK)
49 Driver: Henry Catchpole (GB)
Co-driver: Chris Brooks (GB)
50 Driver: Supradip Dey Roy (IND)
Co-driver: Robert Stokoe (GB)
19th April, 2008
The Motor Sports Association is to launch a nationwide marketing campaign to attract thousands of new people to motor sport.
Go Motorsport is the first ever centrally co-ordinated campaign to raise the profile of motor sport among the general population and will encourage people to get involved with the sport, whether as a spectator, participant or volunteer.
An extensive consumer PR, advertising and promotional campaign will engage the public, with a consistent call to action driving people to a central website. The website will be designed to capture people's interest, explain the many varied disciplines of the sport and provide clear instructions about how to get involved. A searchable database will allow visitors to discover which events and clubs are located near to their postcode.
Backed by initial funding of £250,000 from the Motor Sports Association, Go Motorsport is the first campaign of its type ever initiated by the governing body and it is anticipated that the entire UK motor sport community will support the campaign, either with benefit in kind or with tangible offers to ensure that the message reaches as many people as possible.
Go Motorsport is the latest initiative in the MSA's commitment to the promotion and development of UK motor sport, following the recent announcements of Let's Go Karting (a nationwide programme to give youngsters a taste of karting for just £5), free first-time competition licences for the under-16s, continued investment in the successful Volunteers in Motorsport programme and the on-going commitment to the development of the UK's Elite talent through the MSA British Race and Rally Elite schemes. In total, over £600,000 will be invested in these schemes alone in 2008, in addition to the donations made by the Club, Rescue and Safety development funds.
"This pro-active initiative by the MSA is one of which I am very proud," says Alan Gow, MSA Chairman. "The message of the overall campaign is a simple one: 'motor sport is fun and exciting; get out there and have a look because there's something for everyone.'
26th March, 2008
We are pleased to announce our sponsorship of the 2008 IRDC Improvement award within the British rally Championship. It is designed to show the driver who has improved from event to event rather than the fastest driver, identifying improving talent and awarding a cash prize for their efforts.
More information about the BRC and the scheme can be found at; http://www.rallybrc.co.uk/news-details-page.asp?NewsID=211
25th February, 2008