Rally-Driver.com: XS Racing has excellent run on the Isle of Man

XS Racing has excellent run on the Isle of Man
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Julian on 09 August, 2006 12:00:00
 
Although the team's championship leading Porsche  911RS of Steven Smith and John
Nichols was sidelined when Nichols sustained a  back injury, the team's other
three cars ran faultlessly on the toughest rally  in the calendar. "It if hadn't
been for John's unfortunate injury I'm sure we'd  have had all four cars to the
finish," said team boss Jon Cropper.   Smith/Nichols were leading the historic
rally by  23s at the end of the opening leg and were planning to consolidate
that lead on  the second leg. However, a heavy landing on the first stage of
Friday morning  left Nichols with a back injury and they were forced to pull out
of the  rally.
Frank Cunningham and  Arron Forde - Image Paul Lawrence
A great deal of interest surrounded the debut of  the Mk1 Escort BDA that XS
had built up for Irish crew Frank Cunningham and  Arron Forde. Even though the
car was brand new, it successfully finished the  rally with third place in class
and Cunningham was very happy with the debut of  the new car. "We were really
pleased that the car went so well on its maiden  outing on the toughest event on
the calendar," said Cropper.   Also finishing third in class were Peter Egerton 
and Russ Langthorne in their XS Racing Escort Mk1. "It was very slippery at 
times, but we really enjoyed it," said Egerton after a trouble-free  rally.
Peter Egerton  and Russ Langthorne - Image Paul Lawrence   Class victory, and
fourth overall in the Classic  category, was a great result for brothers Michael
and David Pedley in their  Triumph TR7 V8, which was also tended by the XS
Racing team.   Before the Isle of Man event, XS Racing had been  busy at the
annual Goodwood Festival of Speed where the team looked after the  ex-works Audi
Sport Quattro of Steve Perez. To make the occasion truly  memorable, rally
legend Hannu Mikkola took to the wheel of the car for the event  and drove it
for the first time since he rallied it in 1985.   "He said the car was fantastic
and gave us a  glowing report on the car," said Dan Sutherland of XS Racing. "He
set some  astonishing times and said that the suspension was better now than it
had ever  been. It ran superbly and we just filled it with fuel during the 
weekend."   XS Racing specialises in all types of historic  rally preparation
and parts supply across a wide range of cars. XS Racing can be  contacted on
01246 233777.
More  at: www.xsracing.net