Rally-Driver.com: Fiesta SportingTrophy UK, round 5/8 22th July 2006

Fiesta SportingTrophy UK, round 5/8 22th July 2006
================================================================================
Julian on 24 July, 2006 12:00:00
 
It was a case of dust, dust, dust as Chris Moore dusted off the opposition in
the fifth round of the Fiesta SportingTrophy UK on the Swansea Bay Clubmans
Rally with a blinder of a time on the final stage to take victory on the hot,
dry and dusty gravel event.
Moore started the day ruing his tyre decision of the harder option tyres all
round, the choice making his Fiesta ST handle, in his words, like a Mk2 Ford
Escort, such was the tail-happy nature from the lack of grip from the rear end.
The first two stages of the event were driven by Moore and co-driver Richard
Edwards with this set-up leaving them as fourth Fiesta ST at the first service
stop.
A change to the softer compound tyres for the rear through Moore employing two
tyre change jokers of the five allowed during the course of the season meant
handling was much improved. Moore set the third fastest Fiesta ST time on stage
three and the fastest on the final stage for his win.
The rally saw Colin Greer lead the event from the first stage, Rhondda, after
putting in a storming time on the opener, some 20 seconds faster than any other
Fiesta ST, but the Scotsman suffered the cruel fate of a driveshaft failure five
miles from the rally’s end. The close nature of the competition meant
that the slow pace with which Greer limped to the end of the event saw him drop
to seventh in the final standings, just 20 seconds off Moore.
Whilst Greer was setting his epic first stage time another competitor’s
Fiesta ST was on its roof. Last year on the event, Welshman Alex Evans had a
high speed off into a large pile of logs which lined the forest route; this year
it was a slower speed off into a ditch to upturn Evans and co-driver Dai
Roberts, who were unhurt in the incident. Only Evans and Mike Faulkner failed to
finish the event from the 23 Fiesta STs that started, Faulkner having ended his
rally on SS5 in a ditch.
Second fastest on the first stage was another Greer, Jonathan, no relation to
Colin and only half a second faster than Adam Gould.  Stage two, Tyle, saw Colin
Greer the quickest although this time he was only a second and a half faster
than his namesake with Mike Faulkner the third fastest Fiesta ST.
The third stage, Rheola, saw Tom Walster jump to the fore with the fastest time
but Colin Greer was second quickest. With Jonathan Greer the eighth fastest of
the Fiesta STs on that stage, Colin now had a healthy lead of almost half a
minute.
Stage four, Walters, was cancelled due to an accident from non-Fiesta ST
competitors requiring an ambulance on the stage which moved the focus to the
final stage of the event, Resolven.
Entering this stage Colin Greer had an advantage of almost 30 seconds from
Jonathan Greer but a driveshaft failure five miles from the end meant his fine
run was ended. There was one silver lining however with Greer awarded the
Castrol Hard Charger prize.
With Greer having lost his lead attention turned to Jonathan Greer, second in
the standings for the entirety of the event, but it was Chris Moore who would
vault up the order, jumping from fourth in the standings to take the lead on the
final stage with a time eight seconds faster than any other Fiesta. This meant
that Moore became the first ever driver to win two Fiesta SportingTrophy rallies
in this inaugural year.
The Fiesta STs were not the only cars contesting the Swansea Bay Clubmans Rally
and the final results did see another car take the win, but no-one from the
Fiesta SportingTrophy UK minded the fact that they had been beaten by as
impressive a car as Mark Soloway’s immaculate safari-spec Mk1 Ford Escort
RS.
The Fiesta SportingTrophy UK will have its second and final tarmac rally of the
season, the Mewla Rally based around Builth Wells, Powys on August 27th.
Driver quotes
#106 Chris Moore
We just totally went for it on the last stage, if anyone had gone faster than
us on that one they were welcome to it! I’m thrilled to bits, we had to
win and second would not have been good enough. I’m gutted for Colin but
there are two happy people in this car and tonight we’re going out to get
hammered!
#112 Jonathan Greer
We made a few mistakes but nothing big. We were in the bushes a few times on
the last stage. We were pushing hard; harder than you’d think.
#111 Tom Walster
It has been an entertaining day and it finished off okay as we got third and
good points for the championship. I enjoyed it but it was a shame about the dust
as it could have been a better result otherwise.
#102 George Thomas
We had a push on the last one but we also had a flat tyre. We took 20 seconds
out of Simon Hughes but Chris Moore went eight seconds faster than us somehow.
We’ve had two punctures in one day – fantastic!
#117 Adam Gould
I’m quite pleased, the whole day was good. On the last stage we had a
two wheel moment and we had a few other moments on other stages too. Everyone
was pushing hard and I’m happy to be on the pace at last.
#105 Owen Murphy
We rolled at a hairpin left on the last stage but we were still second fastest
on that one so I’m happy enough. It was our only good stage all day and
that was with a roll in it! We had no brakes for the rest of the stage which is
why we were so quick. After the roll I just slammed it into first gear and
shouted, “off we go!”
#110 Colin Greer
We bust a driveshaft with 5 miles to go on the final stage. The drive got worse
and worse but we made it to the finish of the stage then had to push the car for
the last bit to the final control. I wasn’t going to give in, no way! I
don’t seem to have much luck with rallying.
#103 Kevin Davies
I’m glad to be here at the end. It was a shame the Walters Arena stage
was cancelled as that’s a good one. George Thomas took 14 seconds out of
me on the final stage so fair play to him.
#116 Fraser Jones
The last stage was a lot better than the rest for us, we had a great time after
a slow start and we only really got going on that one.
#104 Simon Hughes
We dropped another 15 seconds on the final stage, I hope there’s
something wrong with the car as we’ve not been slow anywhere else all
year. We just didn’t gel with the notes today.
Overall Fiesta ST Positions from the Swansea Bay Clubmans Rally:
1. Chris Moore - 44m 46.6s
2. Jonathan Greer - 44m 50.6s
3. Tom Walster - 44m 52.6s
4. George Thomas - 44m 57.7s
5. Adam Gould - 44m 58.8s
6. Owen Murphy - 45m 02.2s
7. Colin Greer - 45m 06.3s
8. Kevin Davies - 45m 18.2s
9. Fraser Jones - 45m 28.0s
10. Simon Hughes - 45m 33.8s
Championship positions
1. George Thomas - 28
2. Chris Moore - 25
3. Kevin Davies - 21
4. Owen Murphy - 19
5. Simon Hughes - 18
6. Tom Walster - 14
7. Jonathan Greer - 13
8. Colin Greer - 10
9. Alex Evans - 9
10. Dan Taylor - 9
Further information on the  Fiesta SportingTrophy from Stella Boyles on
sboyles@m-sport.co.uk