REES HAS CRACKING EVENT WHILE COLE HAS SHEAR EXPERIENCE
Under glorious sunshine in Mid Wales the O2 Get Connected! team suffered mixed fortunes during the two days of the International Rally of Wales, round two of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship (BRC). Damian Cole and Dorian Rees were keen to impress on home soil, however only one of the two ACE Motorsport prepared Subaru's would be able to finish the demanding Mid Wales event.
Damian Cole had upstaged his team mate on the first two opening tests, setting a time just outside the top ten on the classic forest tracks of Dyfi. The Hereford based Welshman partnered by Church Stretton co-driver Phil Clarke, driving his Subaru Impreza World Rally Car into twelve place after stage two.
However, the pairs rally was short-lived when a camshaft pulley sheared on the road section shortly after service on the way to stage three.
"We had started the rally as planned, stage one was good for us, but Dyfnant was thick with dust having to stop while catching the car in front and we felt we could go faster throughout the day, unfortunately it did not happen. Hopefully we can resume our pace in Scotland."
Dorian Rees and Patrick Walsh had a very traumatic first day, nearly crashing out on stage one with two spins, The Llanybydder driver and his Aberystwyth co-driver also suffered a smashed windscreen on their Subaru Impreza WRX along the road section back into Dolgellau on completing the final stage of the day.
"We just run out of road on the first stage and were lucky to still be in the rally. We have not been in the car since the Pirelli, which didn't help us on that stage. Then on the way back to Dolgellau the bonnet came up and cracked the screen. It was strange and lucky it didn't happen on the stages. I have to thank 22 Motorsport, who loaned us the replacement screen which allowed us to continue in the rally."
Despite their problems the West Wales pair had managed thirteenth place overall and were leading the Production (GroupN) Class at the overnight halt and were confident they could maintain their lead over the three remaining Sunday morning stages. The first stage the Subaru reached the finish with a puncture that had slowed the pair, but that was the only drama of the day as Rees and Walsh held onto the Production lead to the finish by a margin of over two minutes from their nearest rival and move up the leaderboard to eleventh overall.
The win now means the pair lead the Production Class in the series and also extend their lead in the Prodrive Subaru Production Cup 2004 with two maximum scores.
The next round of the BRC takes the O2 Get Connected! team north of the border for the Scottish Rally on 11th/12th June 2004. Cole is hopeful he can also contest the Red Dragon Rally on Saturday 22nd May in South Wales . Rees plans to spend some additional time in the car, conducting additional testing ahead of the BRC qualifier.
Damian/Phil and Dorian/Patrick are supported on the British Rally Championship by O2 & Get Connected!, Speedline Corse, Welsh Automotive Forum, Rees Buildings, Roy Rees & Sons Plant Hire, Wyn Thomas Heating, John Morgan Autoparts, GKN, Matador Tyres, Oriel & Barrie Jones, Ad-Clad, Davies Subaru, Forge Motorsport, P & A Whitfield, Dragon Racewear, Alvington Car Sales, Severnside Motorsport.com, Teifi Timber Products, WRC Sales.com, ACE Motorsport and Maximum Attack Promotions.
