Perez triumphs on Border Counties Rally to record maiden Hankook GRC win
A delighted Steve Perez emerged victorious in the second round of the 2007 Hankook GRC – winning the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally.
Together with co-driver Claire Mole, the Vodka Kick driver guided his Focus WRC to a memorable win on the Jedburgh-based event which saw crews tackle seven high speed tests in the notorious Kielder Forest complex.
Dry weather and blue skies provided perfect conditions for the crews, and the thousands of fans who headed into the forests to see the high-powered action.
Marcus Dodd was the rally’s early leader, the south coast driver arriving in the Scottish borders leading the Hankook GRC after victory on last month’s Rallye Sunseeker.
But Perez took the lead on the penultimate stage of the day after Dodd rolled out of the lead and into retirement from the rally, a victim of the notorious Kielder ditches.
But there was delight for Perez who claimed his maiden National A rally victory.
"I've been trying for years to win one of these events and I've finished second so many times, I'm absolutely over the moon. I'm really looking forward to the Manx as leader of the Hankook GRC," said Perez.
Second Hankook GRC contender was Roger Duckworth and Ian Allsop in the Subaru Impreza while Paul Bird and Ian Windress completed the podium places.
For Roger it was his first Hankook GRC finish of the season after retirement on Rallye Sunseeker while Bird moves into second in the championship with his third place result.
The second round of the Hankook GRC also played host to the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge and elsewhere in the championship there was a top points haul for Robert Cholmondeley in the HPM 2WD category.
With two of the championship’s seven rounds now complete organisers of the Hankook GRC are celebrating record numbers of top drivers signing up to compete with the tough competition and challenging events key to securing a strong line-up for 2007.
At the weekend, more than 35 registered drivers were bidding for honours on the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally.
Hankook motorsports manager Mike Patterson said that by choosing top class events in England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Ireland, the Hankook GRC can provide the variety of events which competitors want.
“This formula s attracting some of the biggest names in British rallying and from abroad which is great news for the Hankook GRC,’’ said Mike.
“And Hankook GRC registered crews dominated the top 10 on the Border Counties, taking nine of the top 10 spots in the event, testament to the speed and ability of the crews.’’
The Hankook GRC now moves to the Isle of Man for the RBS International Manx Rally which takes place on the island on May 11/12.
Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally Results (Hankook GRC registered contenders in bold)1 Steve Perez/Claire Mole (Ford Focus WRC) – 0:53:43.42 Roger Duckworth/Ian Allsop (Subaru Impreza) - 0:54:29.53 Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Subaru Impreza WRC) – 0:55:02.94 Dave Weston/Neil Shanks (Ford Focus WRC) - 0:55:03.05 Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi EVO 9) – 0:55:12.36 Sebastian Ling/Aled Rees (Mitsubishi EVO 9) – 0:55:12.47 Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh (Mitsubishi EVO 9) – 0:55:13.28 Jimmy Girvan/Mike Ramsay (Subaru Impreza) - 0:55:29.29 David Bogie/Rob Fagg (Mitsubishi EVO 9GT) - 0:55:40.410 Nik Elsmore/Vicky Allen (Mitsubishi EVO 9) - 0:55:53.32007 Hankook MSA Gravel Rally Championship Positions1 Steve Perez 47pts2 Paul Bird 40pts3 Phillip Morrow 37pts4 Julian Reynolds 33 points5 Sebastian Ling 32 points
Further Information is available at the Championship Website: www.gravelrally.co.uk
2007 remaining rounds of the Hankook GRC
11/12 May RBS International Manx Rally (Douglas)2 June Severn Valley Stages Rally (Builth Wells)21 July Swansea Bay National Rally (Swansea)2 September Killarney Forest Stages Rally (Killarney)20 October Bulldog Rally (Oswestry)
Picture by CMWI.net – Steve Perez – winner of round two of the Hankook GRC
