SIMPSON RETURNS AFTER 12 YEARS TO FINISH 2ND OVERALL AND 1ST IN CLASS ON HIS SKODA FABIA S2000 DEBUT

Simpson SKODA dealer principle makes sensational debut in his Fabia S2000

Neil Simpson made a sensational return to rallying after a 12 year absence, when he finished 2nd overall (and 1st in class) on the North West Stages Rally in his Simpsons SKODA Fabia S2000.

Co-driven by Claire Mole for the first time, the 41-year old dealer principal from Clitheroe in Lancashire was lying 17th after a tricky opening night of competition (Friday 7 February), when heavy rain and darkness made conditions very challenging.

Neil quickly got into his stride on day two, acclimatising quickly to his new ex-factory SKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000 as the multi-venue all-Tarmac North West Stages Rally unfolded. He rapidly moved up the leaderboard, and after great runs over the Blackpool Promenade and Fleetwood Waterfront stages, which were lined with thousands of spectators, Neil completed all 26 stages and 75 miles of flat-out competition in a magnificent 2nd overall.

Neil: “I’m delighted with the result and our overall performance. I’ve missed rallying so much, and to score such a great result first time out after twelve years is a great start to the year.

“The opening group of stages on the Friday night were some of the most difficult I’ve ever done in my entire rally career. It was very much back in at the deep end, and having gone out on slick tyres in the pouring rain, we spent most of the night spinning and travelling backwards! I went to bed in seventeenth place and thinking the long day ahead was going to be even harder and a top ten result would be a good achievement, but on the Saturday things just got better and better.

“You had to be very precise, because there were lots of kerbs and concrete to hit and there were bits of other rally cars lying everywhere, but we drove well within ourselves and quickly climbed up the leaderboard. Claire and I worked well together inside the car and the team did a fantastic job; we made no more mistakes and enjoyed every moment. To finish second on my first rallying in twelve years – well, I couldn’t have wished for anything better.”

Neil’s next rally will be the Le Touquet Rallye in France (14-15 March).

North West Stages Rally – top six finishers

1. Paul Bird/Aled Davies (Ford Focus WRC)….1hr 37mins 48secs

2. Neil Simpson/Claire Mole (SKODA Fabia S2000)….+5mins 08secs

3. Darren Doherty/Andrew Falconer (Subaru Impreza)….+6mins 44secs

4. Bob Grant/Vicky Grant (Subaru Impreza)….+8mins 52secs

5. Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Escort)….+10mins 20secs

6. Alan Kirby/Lawrence Kirby (Subaru Impreza)….+10mins 30secs