Francis gets second Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship win
Luke Francis scored his second win from as many starts in this year’s Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship on Rally North Wales last Saturday.
In their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 running on Pirelli tyres, Francis and co-driver John H Roberts dominated the National B event based in Dolgellau, winning all five stages and triumphing by 1m15s overall.
Steve Simpson set an identical time to Francis through the first stage but was forced out by a broken driveshaft on his Ford Fiesta on SS3. Ieuan Rowlands took second place in his Ford Escort, just four seconds ahead of Subaru Impreza driver Andy Davies in an all-Pirelli podium.
Andrew Jones finished fifth in his Escort to retain the championship lead, two points ahead of Francis, who was absent from round two, the Mid Wales Stages. Round four is the Welshpool-based Plains Rally on May 14.
Pritchard the winner again with Pirelli in Historic rallying
Jason Pritchard claimed the honours again in the MSA British Historic Rally Championship on Rally North Wales on Saturday.
The defending champions Pritchard and navigator Phil Clarke made it two from two after also winning the opening round on the Red Kite Stages in February.
Pirelli-supported Pritchard led from start to finish to win the National A event on the Dolgellau-based rally, taking victory on the sixth and final stage in his Ford Escort Mk2 to stretch his overall advantage from eight to 21 seconds.
He said: "I’m delighted with finishing top of the pile this weekend, it was a tough rally and to finish ahead of some fantastic drivers and cars is a brilliant feeling. It was another perfect day for me and like the last round, we had no problems with the car and there wasn’t a mark on it at the end. I have to thank Viking Motorsport for getting the car ready for me, it's such a pleasure to drive."
The MSA British Historic Rally Championship will feature at the Pirelli Carlisle Rally on April 30 for the third round of the season.
Ingram launches ERC Junior bid with Pirelli on Circuit of Ireland
British driver Chris Ingram is aiming to get his bid for the junior crown in the FIA European Rally Championship off to a winning start on the Circuit of Ireland this week (April 7-9).
Having been a frontrunner in ERC Junior over the past two seasons, Ingram has joined the German-based factory-supported Opel Rallye Junior Team for 2016, driving an Adam R2 model. ERC Junior is fought for over six rounds of the ERC and this year it will be supplied exclusively by Pirelli.
The 21-year-old from Manchester said: “I feel the Circuit of Ireland will be the ideal place for my debut with Opel and to kick off this year’s Junior ERC. The Circuit is a legendary event with some of the best stages in Europe, and an awesome atmosphere.
“I have some great memories from it, especially in 2014 when I became the youngest winner of the Colin McRae Flat Out trophy. After my first test in the incredible Adam R2 and with my new co-driver Kat Becker, I’m confident we have a top package and that we can push for the title starting on the Circuit.”
Ingram launches ERC Junior bid with Pirelli on Circuit of IrelandBritish driver Chris Ingram is aiming to get his bid for the junior crown in the FIA European Rally Championship off to a winning start on the Circuit of Ireland this week (April 7-9).
Having been a frontrunner in ERC Junior over the past two seasons, Ingram has joined the German-based factory-supported Opel Rallye Junior Team for 2016, driving an Adam R2 model. ERC Junior is fought for over six rounds of the ERC and this year it will be supplied exclusively by Pirelli.
The 21-year-old from Manchester said: “I feel the Circuit of Ireland will be the ideal place for my debut with Opel and to kick off this year’s Junior ERC. The Circuit is a legendary event with some of the best stages in Europe, and an awesome atmosphere.
