round two: Denbighshire Astra Stages Rally
The 2006 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge will resume with round two, the Denbighshire Astra Stages Rally on Saturday 1 April.
The classic category accounts for a record 23 cars in the fabulous 80-car historic entry, which makes the BHRC the biggest element of this very popular rally. The crews face seven stages in the Clocaenog and Aberhirnant forests on the Llangollen-based rally.Although Robin Hood winners Peter Slights/Joyce Champion are absent in their Escort Mk2, there is no shortage of potent Mk2s in class D5 aiming for victory.
Leading the field will be defending champions Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James in the West Wales Rally Spares Mk2, and they will rejoin their friendly rivalry with Martin Freestone/Joanne Lockwood.However, series newcomers James Potter/Bob Stokoe showed excellent pace on the Robin Hood and will be major contenders, along with Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing, while Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby were leading the Robin Hood at the end of the first leg, but later retired their superbly presented Escort Mk2 with transmission dramas.
Another glorious car is the ex-Russell Brookes Mk2 of Grant Shand/Stephen Shephard, while rallying returnee Terry Brown/Brynmor Pierce will be contenders on stages they know well. Having tackled the Clocaenog complex on the Cambrian Rally last November, they should fly on the Astra. Ian Rix/Daniel Stone are also established D5 front-runners, while Peter Egerton/Russ Langthone switch to an Escort from the Hyundai WRC that Egerton has been rallying recently.
Out for the first time in the Classic Challenge this season will be the Escort Mk2 of Stuart Clarke/Cliff Simmons, who took maximum points on the Astra in 2005.Welcome variety to the Escort pack comes from the Lotus Sunbeams of Julian Burch/Chris Derbyshire and Adrian Seabridge/Paul Vass. However, much attention will focus on the 3.1-litre Ford Capri of Jeremy Easson/Den Golding. If this newly-prepared car is ready in time, it should cause a sensation!
An excellent seven-car field of Escorts will contest class D3, with 2005 champions Mark and Brett Clifford returning in their Pinto-powered Mk2. Richard Lane/Frank Richer were star performers on the Robin Hood to score a cracking class win. Finally, Dave and Tony Cobb campaign their Toyota Corolla in class D2.
With more cars set to join the Classic category over the coming months, the division is booming and a fine battle is in prospect on the Astra. The Escort Mk2s will lead the way, but the progress of Easson's Capri could be a major talking point!The Astra is organised by Vauxhall Motoring Group (Wirral) and for more details about the event, please visit the website at: astrastages.co.uk
