ROUND 7: UTS CHEVIOT KEITH KNOX STAGES RALLY, 25th October

For the first time for almost two years, an MG Metro 6R4 took maximum points on a round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship. The occasion was the UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages Rally and the crew were Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt. Their Legend Motorsport prepared example finished 2nd to the Subaru Impreza WRC of 2007 MSA Asphalt Champions Steve Simpson and Mark Booth, exactly one minute separating the two cars after 100 miles of stages on the Otterburn Military Ranges.While the Drivers’ Championship had long since been sorted in favour of Melvyn Evans, the Co-drivers’ title went down to the wire. Prior to the start of the Cheviot, Sean Mullally (Evans) topped the points but was absent from the Northumberland event, giving second-placed Alun Cook (David Mann) the chance to overhaul him. However, Mann/Cook’s Impreza WRC ground to a halt on the second stage of the day with clutch failure, handing the trophy to Mullally.2009 Championship runner-up Roger Donnan’s consistent season saw him take his seventh finish from seven starts in his Ford Puma S1600, in spite of an off during the morning that caused two punctures. Co-driver Kim Baker also moves into 2nd spot, ahead of Cook who hangs on to the final podium place.

Results:1  Steve Simpson/Mark Booth     1h30m57s2  Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt   1h31m57s3  Andy Fenwick/Rob Fagg         1h36m04s4  Chris Singer/Katherine Singer  1h36m23s5  Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt    1h36m25s6  Chris Jones/Ashley Trimble  1h36m59s