Preview - round seven: Tour of Flanders
The Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship crosses the English channel for round seven, the Tour of Flanders (17/18 September).
Run over two days on the Belgian asphalt roads, the event comes at a pivotal point in the championship calendar as just two rounds remain after the trip to Belgium.Historic (category 1)Steven Smith heads to Flanders at the head of the overall BHRC standings in his XS Racing Porsche 911. However, there will be a different co-driver calling the pace notes on this event in the form of Howard Pridmore, as Smith's regular partner John Nichols will be busy at his daughter's wedding!
As ever, Smith will go up against the Porsche 911 of Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride and the Sunbeam Tiger of Flanders newcomer Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies. "The stages in Flanders are quite fast and very smooth, so it's a Tiger kind of event," says Smith. "But Dessie won it last year and I think it also plays to his strengths!"
If Smith can win the historic category for the fifth time in seven events, he will be secure as category champion with two events to run. However, the contest for the overall BHRC crown will not be settled in Belgium.
Keith Pettitt/Sharon Chilver should be top dogs in the 2-litre class, while a strong Mini contingent will be battling over class B2. With class pacesetters Matthew and Dood Pearce set to miss Flanders, the contest could be between Henry Hardiment/Ewen Adams and Mike Barratt/Michelle Calvert. Meanwhile, in class B1 the two-stroke Saab 96s of John Parker/Robert Harrison and Nick Pinkett/Caroline Lodge will be sure to please the Belgian crowds.Post-historic (category 2)David Stokes and Ian Oakey are now the big rivals to Smith/Nichols for the overall BHRC crown and head to Belgium in pursuit of their fifth category 2 victory of the season in their Escort Mk1. Although Stokes missed the 2004 Flanders event, they will be expected to see the post-historic pace in another battle with the similar car of Jeremy Easson/Den Golding. Other rapid Escort crews in the highly competitive class C5 include Graham Samuel/Tony Phillips and Craig Salter/Preston Ayres.
Four Porsches will battle it out for class C4 and all of them could be up amongst the Escorts in the contest for the overall post-historic glory. French-based Peter Lythell teams up with Gill Cotton once more after a fine run on the Manx Rally, and Graham Wilson/Keith Fellowes return after missing the Isle of Man event. Meanwhile, Andrew Street/Jez Mason and Paul Drinkall/Roy Brown are upping their pace with each rally.Class C3 looks likely to be wide open, with Ian Drummond/Tom Ward having a great campaign in their Escort RS2000 to head the class from Chris Gravestock/Mark Harmer. However, US-based Irishman Frank Cunningham and co-driver Arron Forde could spring a surprise in their RS2000.
Throughout the 2005 season, the pace from the leading 1600cc cars in class C2 has been stunning and that will continue in Belgium as the Escorts of Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and John Worthing/Roger Sutcliffe renew their rivalry. Derek Belbin and Michael Davison will lead the chase in their similar car.The Tour of Flanders starts at 10am on Saturday from Roeselare for 14 stages covering 80 stage miles. The event re-starts at 9am on Sunday for a further eight stages and another 40 stage miles.
