Damian Cole & Dorian Rees achieved a 100% finishing record on the first round of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, the Pirelli International Rally on 23rd/ 24th April 2004. The two O2 Get Connected! drivers crossed the finish line with Cole claiming a respectable 16th overall placing and Rees forcing his way to eighth overall in their ACE Motorsport prepared Subaru's.
Cole whose experience of gravel rallying was limited to four rallies before the Gateshead based event was just happy to achieve a finish prior to the first round. However, following a cautious start on the three Friday night stages, the Hereford driver found himself setting a top ten stage time on special stage four on Saturday morning.
"It was very encouraging, on the Wyedean Rally in February I was well off the pace and now four rallies later and on a BRC round we have managed to set eighth fastest time on a stage. I've proved to myself I have the pace and more time in the car I will find the cars limits on the gravel."
Damian along with his Church Stretton co-driver, Phil Clarke, encountered a minor problem on stages seven and eight, when an intercooler pipe worked loose and cost the pair several places until their Subaru Impreza World Rally Car was repaired by the ACE Motorsport technicians.
"We pushed hard on the final two stages to make up time following the intercooler problem and I was starting to feel more confident with the car and we were pleased to finish the rally in 16th place, setting a good benchmark for the next round."
Llanybydder driver Dorian Rees and his Aberystwyth co-driver, Patrick Walsh admitted taking it easy on the Friday night stages in their Subaru Impreza. The pair upped their pace on the Saturday and set a top-ten stage time on every stage throughout the day. The increased pace allowing them into eighth overall and second in the Group N Showroom Class continuing their string of good results for 2004. The West Wales pair also lead the Prodrive Subaru Production Cup 2004.
"It was a good result for our first time in Kielder Forest and we had a good run over the Saturday stages which reflected in our times. We were on the pace and had a good battle with our rivals swapping places with them. Although "
The O2 Get Connected! team now look forward to their home round of the British Rally Championship, the Rally of Wales in three weeks. The Dolgellau based rally will use a host of forestry complexes in Mid Wales on 15th/16th May 2004.
"I ran as course opening car on the Rally of Wales two years ago so I have had some experience of the event and will be looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd as part of the O2 Get Connected! team." enthused Rees.
