STAPLETON NARROWLY EXTENDS ADVANTAGE
RUSTON MAINTAINS TOURING-REGULARITY LEAD
AUSTIN HEALEYS AHEAD IN THE INDEX OF PERFORMANCE
Today’s second leg of Tour Britannia has provided yet more close-fought action but Competition entrants Bruce Stapleton and Alistair Cowin have narrowly extended their advantage in the Morgan +8. In the Touring-Regularity category, highly-experienced campaigner John Ruston and navigator Jeremy Haylock have also maintained their lead while the Index of Performance continues to be led by Eric Wooley and David Smithies.
The second leg of Tour Britannia began with circuit action at the historic Donington Park, location of some of the most memorable motor races in British racing history. Once again, it didn’t disappoint. Then it was west to a new venue at Swynnerton where a challenging two and a half mile stage has been found on military land. Tour Britannia’s foreign entrants felt at home as traffic drives on the right throughout the site!
On the homeward run competitors tackled Britain’s leading sprint circuit at Curborough before the day’s final two stages at Arbury Hall, the "Gothic Gem" of the Midlands.
Bruce Stapleton started the day with a slim 6.3 second lead and, despite not winning any of today’s competitive sections, has extended his advantage to 18.7 seconds overnight, benefiting as Nick and Mary Faure hit problems. In contrast, the father and son team of Nick and Harry Whale have set the sections alight today, winning each of the race and rally sections. John Sheldon and Lesley Stevens have powered up the leaderboard from fourth to second, with Eric Wooley and David Smithies moving from fifth to fourth. Rounding off the top six are Richard Lloyd and Alan Rivers.
In the Touring-Regularity category, John Ruston and Jeremy Haylock started the day with a 48.8 second advantage and have extended their lead over Mark Berger and Robert Newton to nearly 90 seconds. Sections were once again won by various crews, including Ruston, the husband and wife rookie crew of Colin and Amelia Goodwin and Mark Vandendijk and An De Reymaeker in the AC Ace Bristol, who hold third overall in the category. The media crew of Martin Sharp/Franca Davenport, third last night, have dropped down the order with steering problems late this afternoon.
Eric Wooley and David Smithies retain their advantage in the Index of Performance, based on handicap, and the fellow Austin Healey crew of Bobby Bell and Oliver Harris are hot on their heels in second, just 7.5 seconds adrift. The Ferrari Daytona Competition of Arnold and Melanie Meier has moved up into third, ahead of Frenchman, Yves Junne. Adam Wiseberg/Robin Eyre-Maunsell, who were third last night, have dropped down the order, having gone off at Arbury Hall this afternoon.
Thursday sees a picturesque route to Belvoir Castle, Tour Britannia’s opening stage in 2005 and home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. A trip over the Lincolnshire fens to Cadwell Park follows. The twisty, hilly circuit was a firm favourite with last year’s competitors and enables the more nimble cars to challenge those with more horsepower. A different stage at Belvoir is run twice before competitors arrive back at Coombe Abbey.
QUOTES FROM THE CREWS
#1 John Ruston/Jeremy Haylock (GB/GB) – Porsche 356 Carrera
“That was superb, Donington is a great circuit and we were just about spot on (1.1 seconds out). Yesterday, we had more competitive distance in just one leg than we get in two normal days on Tour Auto or Tour España, perfect. The road regularity route yesterday - new this year - was also really fantastic. All round, it’s been a smashing day and the stages good; better than last year as they’re even more interesting. To do the mileage we have done today has been clever.”
#3 Mark Berger/Robert Newton (GB/GB) – Bristol 401
“Very good fun today, a good laugh but we got on terribly! Fred (Gallagher) has thought out the route very nicely; there’s something for everyone. The camaraderie is great fun too and it’s nice to watch the serious players and pretend! Arbury Hall was super, a lovely place and we’re really enjoying it.”
#4 Anthony Moody/Justine Moody (GB/GB) – Aston Martin DB4 GT
“Everything about the event is just perfect!”
#5 Martin Sharp/Franca Davenport (GB/GB) - Porsche 356B Super 90
“The road sections are really nice and the countryside great. The timing today was tighter, and more fun for us. Donington was great and Swynnerton very good fun; probably great fun for the Competition guys. We didn’t do Arbury Hall, as there’s something wrong with the steering.”
#7 Colin Goodwin/Amelia Goodwin (GB/GB) - Porsche 911S
“A great day. We loved Swynnerton and Arbury Hall and Donington was good fun, but we had to guess the fourth lap… button operator error!”
#33 Bobby Bell/Oliver Harris (GB/GB) – Austin Healey 100/4
“It’s all gone very well and no problems with the car. Magnificent food and we’re enjoying ourselves thoroughly.”
#34 Michael O’Shea/Colin Bowler (GB/GB) Fiat Dino Spyder
“A cracking day, really good and no major mistakes. The car has never been on a circuit before; lots of rallies but it’s had no modifications for the event, so to be in contention is very good.”
#35 Chris Levett-Prinsep/Andrew Hoskins (GB/GB) – Austin Healey 3000 MkII
“It has been difficult to select gears all day, and by the last stage it has given up the ghost.”
#36 Yves Junne/Elke Middedorp (F/D) – Porsche 904
“It’s my first time at Donington and didn’t know it at all (finished 12th). But, I’m very happy with these four circuits we are doing; they are all very famous in France. With this type of event, it’s on the stages where you can make a big difference though. The stages this afternoon were very nice and each has been a discovery. It’s been a nice day and great food; perfect.”
#38 Adam Wiseberg/Robin Eyre-Maunsell (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“We had a great fight with #39 (finished 2nd in race and 7th overall) but then a half spin at Goddards. I haven’t raced here since about 1987 and it’s such a great circuit and we had a fabulous race. Very enjoyable. Swynnerton was good, great fun.”
#39 Eric Wooley/David Smithies (GB/GB) – Austin Healey 3000 Sebring
“An excellent day, no mistakes and we kept it on the black stuff. Eric won his race at Donington and we had an excellent lunch! We had a misfire with the car running on five cylinders all the way to Donington but we changed the plugs and everything’s been fine after that. The gear stick was a bit loose in Swynnerton, but it was a proper stage, really lovely; proper job!”
#40 Robi Bernberg/Steve Winter (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“A great race at Donington!” (finished 13th) We really enjoyed Swynnerton; fantastic. We’ve had a chronic misfire so the Porsche 904 (Yves Junne) is catching us. A little fettle this evening and a kiss tonight and she’ll be fine tomorrow!”
#41 Charles Reynolds/John Day (GB/GB) – Alpine Renault A110
“I thoroughly enjoyed the race and the car is lovely to drive; thanks Charles! (finished 19th) The car’s had no real testing but it’s really beginning to get there now. Once again, it’s a lovely event.”
#48 Neil Hadfield/Margaret Jackson (GB/GB) – Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
“I’ve never raced here before and could have done with more practice time, but the track was superb though.” (finished 24th)
#50 Steve Tandy/Ian Tandy (GB/GB) – Ferrari 275 GTB
“Donington was good, very enjoyable and Swynnerton was a great stage; excellent. Curborough we’d have been better with a go-kart and Arbury Hall was good; an enjoyable day.”
#51 Bruce Stapleton/Alistair Cowin (GB/GB) – Morgan +8
“A lack of top speed, by comparison with the big cars, and the car is really geared for the stages. A nice circuit though, lovely and flowing (finished 6th). This afternoon wasn’t great though; we nearly wrong slotted in the last stage where you had to go right at a fork in the first stage, but left in the second run; we made a complete arse of that, to say the least. Swynnerton we really enjoyed and it suited the car well.”
#62 Rob Potter/Jac Nellemann (GB/DK) – Chevrolet Corvette 7400
“An eventful day, having been everywhere on seven cylinders, but at least we’ve had brakes on all four wheels today. Loved Donington but we had a bit of a mishap this afternoon when we knocked the main switch and couldn’t work out why the engine stopped! It’s a jolly good event, very enjoyable. Compared to other events, it’s really good and well organised.”
#63 Doug Allen/Richard Lugg (USA/GB) – Ford Mustang 289
“Wonderful! I’ve never raced here, but what a great track!” (finished 14th at Donington) Arbury... I want to do it again, faster!”
#65 Roy Stephenson/Peter Robinson (GB/GB) – Ford Mustang
“A lonely and uneventful race for me, but great weather!”
#67 Richard Lloyd/Alan Rivers (GB/GB) – Chevrolet Camaro
“It was my first ever race, but I finished! The start wasn’t good and I had a couple of spins, but we’re back in one piece!” (Alan Rivers, finished 23rd)
#69 David Betts/Caroline Betts (GB/GB) – Shelby GT350
“A great race, despite a small amount of oil on the track. Swynnerton was a nice long stage, but make a mistake and you’ll hit a tree or a kerb.”
#70 Paul Howells/Neil Primrose (GB/GB) - Porsche 911 ST
“The oil cooler split during the practice session. We were up until midnight last night fixing it…”
#71 Nick Faure/Mary Faure (GB/GB) – Porsche 3.0 RSR
“One minute I had power, the next not. I’ve got my foot down, but nothing happens. No idea what the problem is at the moment (finished 16th). It’s been a sod of a day, I’ve never had such a frustrating event; it would have been quicker to have got out and pushed the car at Arbury Hall and it could have been the best stage of the rally except the car kept cutting out. Maybe it’s something to do with the fuel tank; we’ll see.”
#73 Nick Whale/Harry Whale (GB/GB) – Porsche 911 Carrera RS
“We’re trying to make up time from yesterday (finished 1st). It’s my favourite circuit, favourite car and my son is here too; it doesn’t get much better than this.”
#76 John Sheldon/Lesley Stevens (GB/GB) – Lotus Elan
“We had a great battle with #61 but I desperately didn’t want to get involved in too much of a fight so we stayed well clear.” (finished 4th)
#78 Howard Redhouse/Mike Haigh (IRL/GB) - Shelby GT350
“An excellent craic! A very good day. Donington went really well, even though I had a bit of understeer. Swynnerton went really well on the first run but then we had a bit of a pirouette in the second run! Curborough was tight but fun and Arbury Hall was fantastic fun.”
#80 John Grant/Nick Reynolds (GB/GB) – Chevron B16
Started Donington from the back of the grid and was leading by the end of the first lap. “The car cut out and I had to free-wheel it into the pits. We didn’t fix anything and managed to get back out and up to about 6th or 7th, but then it cut out again on the last lap and we had to be towed in.” Crew then got to Arbury Hall where they were third fastest.
#99 John Evans/Jeff Moyes (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“I had a lovely time and we’re pacing ourselves over the four days.” (finished 21st at Donington) Swynnerton was great fun, nice and fast. The first chicane was tight and twisty; very enjoyable. The car is great, but I want to say a big well done to the guys who prepare the car. Tour Britannia - every month please!”
