HISTORIC RALLY
ARMAJARO MSA BRITISH HISTORIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Steven Smith and John Nichols clinched the 2005 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship by a single point after a fabulous battle with David Stokes and Ian Oakey on the final round, the Historic Somerset Stages at the end of October.
However, by switching to a Ford Escort Mk1 for the final round, Smith/Nichols sacrificed the historic category having set the pace among the older cars all season in a Porsche 911. Instead, Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride topped the historics in their Porsche 911 as Stokes/Oakey claimed the post-historic crown. It was another great season for the BHRC under the expert guidance of the Historic Rally Car Register, with good entries, great competition and a fabulous sporting atmosphere among the competitors. Although they elected to miss the final round, Jeremy Easson/Den Golding still claimed third overall in their Escort Mk1, while strong performances from Matt Pearce/Dood Pearce (Mini Cooper) and Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes
(Ford Escort Mexico) resulted in well deserved top six overall places.CHAMPIONSHIP:1. Steven Smith 207pts2. David Stokes 206pts3. Jeremy Easson 194pts4. Dessie Nutt 183pts5. Matthew Pearce 177pts6. Ken Forster 176pts7. Peter Lythell 152pts8. Mike Barratt 147pts
2005 Historic Rally Champion Steven Smith:"We've had a fantastic time. David was a really worthyadversary. When we couldn't get the Porsche togetherfor the final round, Dessie rang me and offered me hisbrother's car, which was so kind. That's really what thischampionship is all about; it's just so friendly. To comeout on top by one point on the last stage of the season isamazing!"
Championship Co-ordinator David Lucas:"We're building on the success of the BHRC in 2006,keeping the same events and format. It's important togive competitors consistency and we're keen to keepattracting the older cars as well as a good diversity ofcars. Historic rallying is getting more and more popular!"
RALLYCROSS
MSA BRITISH RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPDespite starting the year with a brand new and untested car, built and run by a team which had no previous involvement in Rallycross, Pat Doran beat off opponents with proven machinery to win his first MSA British Rallycross title. Having run in the top three, Doran was disappointed to finish ‘only’ fifth in his first event with the new Ford Fiesta ST-based supercar.
That would be his worst finish of the year however, and three second places joined two wins as Doran visited the podium five times in the seven round championship. The first win came in atrocious weather conditions at Pembrey, the second when the chips were down and the title depended on it in the final round at Croft. Having sealed the title Doran revealed just how important victory had been: “Winning the MSA British championship means everything to me, my sponsorship for 2006 was dependent on winning the championship so this means I can continue to race next year,” he said. Championship coordinator Nikki Stevens plans to maintain the championship’s development in 2006: “The British Rallycross Drivers Association [which runs the championship] is focused on stabilising technical regulations and using the best events available to provide competitors with the strongest possible series in which to race,” she said.
CHAMPIONSHIP:1. Pat Doran 164pts2. Dermot Carnegie 155pts3. John McCluskey 125pts4. Lawrence Gibson 113pts5. Michael Coyne 89pts6. George Tracey 87pts7. Julian Godfrey 82pts8. Dave Bellerby 79pts
2005 Rallycross Champion Pat Doran:“The championship has been great this year. It’s runin a professional manner and it has good events atthe best venues available. You’d have to consider itthe best national championship in Europe.”
Championship Co-ordinator Nikki Stevens:“The British Rallycross Drivers Association isfocused on providing competitors with the strongestpossible series in which to race.”
