oung rally driver Tom Delaney, ended his 2015 season on a high this weekend, with another excellent second place on the North Humberside Stages rally, the final round of this year's Formula 1000 Junior rally championship. In doing so, the 16 year-old finished the season third in the standings despite having missed two rallies to concentrate on his school exams and narrowly missed-out on second overall, by just four points.
The final round took place at the Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire and was a wet and grey affair. As the event infolded, there was a three-way battle between Tom, 2015 champion-elect Charlie Barlow and Zak Hughes. Barlow had a bad first stage and then, Tom was baulked by a slower car, losing 10 seconds in the process.
This put him within potential striking distance of Barlow. However, a pep-talk from Tom's father Dominic, who runs preparation company SVP, reaped rewards. Tom set the fastest stage time on the first of the two remaining stages run in darkness and on the final timed test, was second-fastest by just one second.
By the end of the rally, he had claimed second in the category to Hughes, beating Barlow, the 2015 champion, on the road and securing third overall in the season standing.
Commenting after the rally, Tom said; "I'm really pleased with how the rally turned out. Beating Charlie on the first stage was great but then losing the time stuck behind the slower car was really annoying. Dad and I had a good chat and I just drove the last two stages as well as I could and it worked - a fastest and second-fastest time were good for second and beating Charlie."
Tom's father Dominic said; "I am really pleased with how Tom, and Joe [Cruttenden, co-driver] went this weekend. The first stage showed his pace, where he was faster than the champion on the first stage, which was new for everyone. But then he lost time when he was held up and he got really down about it.
"We had a chat before the last pair of stages and agreed that instead of focussing on Charlie behind him, he should concentrate on Zak ahead and drive as well as he could. It worked, as he put in fastest and second-fastest times on the last two and raised a few eyebrows in the process, I think.
"Second on the rally was great but third - by just four points - in the 2015 standings is a fantastic achievement. This is only Tom's second season and his first of full competition and to finish third is a superb result. He was on the podium six times, second five times and put in some excellent stage times. I am really pleased with how his season has gone and I think next year will be even better."
Tom will be returning to the Formula 1000 Junior series in 2016, where this year's champion will be absent, as he will be too old to compete. Tom will also turn 17 during the year so potentially, will be looking to expand his experience into multi-venue rallying, pending passing his driving test.
