Round four: Mutiny Historic RallyMartin Freestone and Chris Heyes became the fourth different winners in four rounds of the 2005 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge when they scored a fine win on the Mutiny Historic Rally (Saturday 4 June).The Isle of Man-based crew turned in a perfect performance in their Escort Mk2 to score their first win in the series and strengthen their bid for the 2005 title.
With around 50 stage miles in mid-Wales awaiting, it was the opening 17-mile stage in Radnor that was to be the critical test. While Freestone had a good run on his first experience of the stage, Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James had a nightmare when a broken rotor arm cost them over two minutes.
Once the West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2 was running properly again, Lloyd attacked and took fastest times on all five remaining stages. But the deficit was too great and with Freestone driving extremely well, the margin was still close to two minutes at the finish.
Into a fine third place came Ian Rix and Daniel Stone in their Escort RS1800. Having recently teamed up, the pair had warmed up on the Red Dragon Rally and continued excellent progress on the Mutiny. Having the former Evo Challenge co-driver on board has given Rix a big confidence boost. Their ever-increasing pace eventually took them ahead of the Triumph TR7 V8 of Stephen Hall/Aggie Foster late in the day, although the TR still claimed class D4 spoils.
Out of luck once again were Stuart Clarke and Peter Thomas when halfshaft failure stopped their Escort in Radnor, with the same stage claiming the Escort of Ralph Abel/Samuel Armida with a roll They managed to drive out of the stage, but damage was too bad for the car to continue in the rally.
Only 16s down on Hall/Foster were Classic newcomers Martin Kenny and Dave Stocking in Kenny’s Escort Mk2, while Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing lost time in Radnor with a puncture. However, they were pleased to have finally overcome the alternator dramas that have dogged them this season.
Class D3 went to Paul Morris/Simon Rogers (Escort Mk2) after Mark and Brett Clifford had to stop and change a puncture in Radnor. Class D2 was taken the Talbot Sunbeam of series newcomers Richard Perry/Clive Townend.
