Preview, round seven: Historic Tour of Flanders
Round seven of the 2006 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge takes the classic crews to Belgium for the Tour of Flanders (9/10 September) and two days of challenging stages on the asphalt lanes around the host town of Roeselare.
With around 115 stage miles and typically slippery and tricky Belgian stages, the event will feature a new winner for the 2006 season as runaway championship leader Gareth Lloyd is missing the event while resolving engine dramas in his Escort Mk2. Having finished the Historic Rally Isle of Man with engine damage, Lloyd has elected to miss the Belgian event in order to be back as strong as ever for the Trackrod Rally in early October.
Ironically, Lloyd's closest challenger in the points' table, Arwel Evans, is also missing the event due to budget restraints, so the door is open for another crew to top the classic contingent. That honour is most likely to be fought out between the Escort Mk2s of Martin Freestone/Ryland James and Terry Brown/Paul Willets. With Lloyd not running in Belgium, his regular co-driver James has taken the opportunity to sit alongside Freestone for the first time. Having missed the Welsh Rally in May while out of the country, James is keen to bag another strong finish in a bid to retain the overall co-drivers' title.Brown, meanwhile, is overdue a good result after a season packed with dramas and problems. From six events to date, the veteran driver has only really had one good clear run, so he will be hoping for better fortune in Belgium.The leading British-based Escort crews will also be able to measure their pace against some very potent classic machinery from Belgium, including Opel Asconas, TR7 V8s, Sunbeam Lotuses, BMWs and Opel Monzas!Back among the HRCR Classic contenders, Chris Shooter/Bev Le Good will be aiming to consolidate third place in the championship in their Escort Mk2, but face some tough D3 opposition from Mark Clifford/Brett Clifford and Richard Lane/Frank Richer in their Mk2 Escorts.The Tour of Flanders starts at 10am on Saturday from Roeselare for 15 stages covering 75 stage miles. The event re-starts at 9am on Sunday for a further eight stages and another 40 stage miles.
