A new co-driver and using Hankook tyres for the first time in the Stars of the Future championship has boosted the confidence of Pontypool rally driver Gareth Nutt and believes his new found partnerships will be a major advantage for the remainder of the 2006 season.
Teaming up with Newport co-driver Stuart Powell for the Jim Clark - Stars of the Future Rally, the Welsh pair started the Kelso based rally in their Hankook shod Vehiclesource.com Peugeot 106 in confident fashion having completed a pre event reconnaissance. Over the opening Buxley test of just under nine miles, the South Wales duo were happy to have set a time just twelve seconds off the rally leader, placing them in third place.
"It was a very good start for me, having completed so much work on the car and not having the time to test the car before hand. Coupled with a new co-driver and using the Hankook tyres for the first time. I would have been happy to set a reasonable time but didn't expect the whole package to work so well so early on. The car handled superb, the Hankook tyres were fantastic and Stuart filled me full of confidence with his experience."
A minor excursion on the next test dropped the pair down to seventh, with Nutt quick to accept responsibility and place the accident down to driver error.
"We were going to fast into a tightening square right which put us off the road for a short time."
Over the third and fifth stages, Nutt and Powell placed second fastest time on both and moved up a position after each stage and with the fourth stage of the day cancelled, the rallying duo were lying fifth overall. However the early mishap had broken a wheel hub assembly, which wasn't evident during routine service. The offending item failed on the very next test and forced retirement out of the rally.
"Despite retiring, I feel I have learned a great deal over the weekend. The event is absolutely awesome and very fast and I would love to do it again next year. There are far more good points to take away from the event than negative ones and I really can't wait for the next rally. My pace has certainly increased with 100% confidence in the information Stuart provides me with and how good the Hankook tyres have been."
Gareth and Stuart will now head to the Isle of Man for the Manx Stars Rally which takes place on 4th/5th August.
