Round three: Red Dragon Rally
The classic forest stages of South Wales will provide the backdrop for round three of the 2004 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge on Saturday 22 May.
Created by the Historic Rally Car Register, the new Classic Challenge is attracting an ever-growing number of cars covering the period from 1975 to 1981. Eleven Classics will start the Red Dragon, running between the 1400s and the main field on this round of the BTRDA Championship.
The season started on the Robin Hood Stages in March, and that event brought a debut victory for Will Nicholls/Nick Broom in their Escort Mk2. However, round two on Epynt went to Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James in their Mk2 and that battle will now be re-joined on the Welsh stages made famous by Wales Rally GB.
Lloyd/James will lead the Classics away in their West Wales Rally Spares Mk2, determined to back up their victory on the Welsh International. "I've done more tarmac events than gravel," says Lloyd. "But I like both surfaces." Lloyd relishes the prospect of a major battle with Nicholls/Broom, but also knows that Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard will be strong contenders in their Mk1 Escort. Having blown the engine in his post-historic category Mk1 on the Astras Stages, Graham hired a newer-specification Mk1 from Northampton Motorsport for the Welsh and chased Lloyd home. "We weren't going to beat Gareth on tarmac, but we are going to try and beat him on gravel," promises Graham.
Nicholls suffered a disappointing first-stage retirement on the Welsh, but will return determined to repeat his Robin Hood victory and knows the stages well enough from contesting ANCRO events in the area in his Subaru Impreza.
Welcome newcomers to the series on the Red Dragon are brothers Chris and Roger Bown in a 2.3 Vauxhall Chevette and they will start third on the road ahead of Graham/Kellard.
Martin Freestone/Chris Heyes start fourth in their Escort RS1800, fresh from a mighty performance on their home event, the Manx National. Freestone is still learning about forest rallying, but will be looking to increase his experience of competing on gravel. Family pairings Michael Pedley/David Pedley (Escort RS2000) and Julian Burch/Vicky Burch (Sunbeam Lotus) will also line up in Swansea, while the Rover 3500SE of John Lythaby/James Savage will be popular with the spectators.
New to the Classic Challenge for the Red Dragon is Ian Rix, who is partnered by Mark Solloway of Historic Rallysport in a 2-litre Escort. They could just prove to be the dark horses amongst the Classic pack.
The Red Dragon Rally is organised by Port Talbot Motor Club, and for more details about the event, please visit the website at: ptmconline.com
