Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship

Report, round two: Pirelli Historic RallyThree crews news to the unique challenge of the Kielder region took the major spoils in an action packed second round of the 2007 Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Pirelli Historic Rally on 20/21 April.

After seven stages in Kershope and Kielder, Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies, Nick Whale/Sally Wood and Martin McCormack/Liam Moynihan all won their respective categories.However, while McCormack/Moynihan took a spectacular overall victory, it was Richard Tuthill/John Bennie who set the pace, only to be denied victory by a puncture.A superb 74-car entry thrilled the fans as the BHRC returned to Kielder after an absence of around eight years.Category 1The Sunbeam Tiger of Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies was quickly into its stride on Friday evening, although some gear selection problems struck over the last two stages. Meanwhile Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) were struggling with tyres and Jonathan Gale/Graham Gale slid the other Tiger into a ditch.

The Lotus Cortina pack was the scene of more fierce competition as Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson, Neil Calvert/Arlene Cookson and Philip Atkinson/Simon Coates battled for seconds and their contest was only resolved on the final stage on Sunday. With Bean sliding off on the penultimate stage, Atkinson really attacked the last stage in Pundershaw to beat Calvert by six seconds. "I think we took the wrong tyres last night," said Atkinson.

Up front, Watts nursed the Tiger to victory as gearbox problems returned and they ran the final stage with only third gear.

In B2 Mike Barratt/Jody Watson went out on Friday after a smashed rim led to their Cooper S taking to a ditch, as Terry Cree/Richard Shores lost eight minutes with a rotor arm failure, but still won the class. Class B1 was eliminated when Nick Pinkett/Alex Lucking put their Saab into a ditch during Saturday.Category 2Tuthill/Bennie took control right from the start of Chamot Hill and look good for a cracking victory until a puncture in Archies Rigg cost them over three minutes. They won five of the seven stages, to prove their class. "Flat out as always was the plan," said Tuthill.

Instead, a great performance from Whale and Wood claimed category 2 spoils for the Tuthill team. New to the region, they turned in a fine drive and arrived back in Carlisle 22s up on David Stokes/Guy Weaver, who fired up the leader board with a big push through the final two stages.Third in category 2 for Steven Smith/John Nichols was some reward for persevering with major clutch problems and then brake failure in their Porsche, while a puncture cost Sean Lockyear/Chris Wood (Porsche 911) a good result. Tim Mason/Graham Wild had a strong rally to take fourth in the category.

With Russell Morgan/Martin Kenyon out with major clutch problems in their Escort on Friday night, class C3 was won by Irishmen Drew Wylie and Dean Beckett in their Escort Mk1.First stage disasters hit John Worthing/Bill Robertson (engine) and Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes (electrics), so Vince Bristow and Dean Mitchell (Escort Mk1) took a commanding win in C2 from Richard and Pat Egger.Category 3Though they had never seen Kielder before, McCormack and Moynihan set a fabulous pace on Friday evening to lead category 3, although a lack of brakes led to a moment on the fourth stage and steering damage. That was fixed with the help of Gareth Lloyd and the Irish crew duly claimed a mighty victory.

A cracking run from Grant Shand/David Young earned second in the category and a first finish for Shand in Kielder after three attempts.

Just a fifth of a second behind Shand were Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing, and they were delighted to pip Jimmy McRae/Andy Richardson by a tenth of a second as McRae fought back into contention. Major brake problems on Friday evening cost McRae a lot of time, but he was the biggest rival to Tuthill on overall stage times.

Richard Lane and Frank Richer took class D3 spoils in their Escort Mk2, although it might have been closer had Mark and Brett Clifford not suffered a disastrous Friday night, which included a back injury for Brett and a hand injury for Mark. Simon Hawthorn/David Curtis had a good run to second in class ahead of the Cliffords.