IRDC - BRC 2011 Driver Improvement Scheme
Positions after round 4 - Jim Clark International Rally 27/28 May
It's surprising how a four week gap between rounds 3 and 4 of the BRC sees a big change in the top ten positions of this year's keenly contested IRDC Driver Improvement Scheme. Eight new names have now appeared in the top ten after the first asphalt rally on this year's calendar, The Jim Clark International Rally which was round 4 of the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship.
First place is now held by 19 year old Daniel O'Brien, the St Albans based Northern Irishman and 2008/9 Irish Rallycross Junior Champion driving an independently run Ford Fiesta in the closely fought R2 category.
Proving that Ireland is well represented in this year's championship is Martin McCormack from Draperstown, currently holding second place in another independent R2 entry, this time a charismatic Citroen DS3, displaying allegiance to Citroen Racing France and the family run directional drilling company.
Currently a worthy third and representing the female presence in this year's championship is 24 year old Louise Cook from Maidstone who has striven hard to raise the necessary money to compete in this year's series and whose R2 Ford Fiesta displays a plethora of small companies who Louise has persuaded to support her and advertise on her independently run car.
The IRDC Driver Improvement scheme is calculated after each round of the championship and shows the greatest percentage improvement in driver's stage times. The results are worked out and facilitated by Tim Hobb's, international co-driver and an acknowledged authority on international rally driver seeding for many years.
Competitors now have more than enough time to catch their breath before Round 5 of the championship is held on 19/20 August when the second asphalt rally of the 2011 series; the 120 stage mile Toddsleap International Rally runs out of Antrim Northern Ireland.
IRDC Driver Improvement Scheme top ten after round 4
The Jim Clark International Rally
1 Daniel O'Brien
2 Martin McCormack
3 Louise Cook
4 Desi Henri
5 John MacCrone
6 Peter Taylor
7 Craig Breen
8 Kit Leigh
9 Nick Cristofaro
10 Alex Laffey
6th June, 2011