Stuart Jones, Bulldog review

JONES DISPLAYS DOMINANT FORM TO CLINCH TITLEHaving stamped his authority on the 2004 Peugeot 206 Super Cup as the quickest driver in the series, Stuart Jones took this one step further by taking another eight fastest times over the nine demanding Mid Wales stages on the final round of the championship, the Bulldog Rally on Saturday 23rd October. The young Welshman claiming another thoroughly deserved win in the series and clinching the 2004 Peugeot 206 Super Cup Championship in a thrilling finale.The Mick Jones Timbers Peugeot 206 Championship winning driver took the victory in emphatic style with an impressive performance of 46 stage wins out of the 85 stage championship. The Welshpool driver and his Wolverhampton co-driver, Richard Edwards leading the field home by a clear 25 stage wins over their nearest rival in the series.Jones was eager to get a healthy lead on the final round as soon as proceedings began, but was surprised at the early lead he had developed after just completing the opening test. "We must have caught everyone knapping on the first stage as we pulled open a ten second lead, we were expecting a tougher battle from the start."As the Jones/Edwards pairing completed every stage they were extending their lead, by the lunchtime halt the pair had a comfortable margin of thirty seconds and were encouraged to have only lost the one fastest Peugeot time on stage two, despite bending a strut on stage five and having to complete stage six with the offending item in place."We bent the strut on the fifth stage but it did not slow us too much. We still managed quickest Peugeot over five and six."The damaged strut was replaced at service with Stuart and Richard extending their lead again on the next test by another nine seconds. Just two stages remaining with Jones driving well within his means pushing his lead to over forty seven seconds before reaching the Shrewsbury finish."Its been a funny year with it taking a while to get our first win of the season, three seconds and a retirement before the victory. Then two back to back wins on Welsh gravel & asphalt rounds. Retirement while leading in Scotland and then to take this round and the championship. It will take a few days to sink in that we have won the championship. Today we had a good feeling for the car and its just one of those rallies where everything just went to plan for us."The dust may have settled on the 2004 Peugeot 206 Super Cup, but the champion will now look towards the final round of the Kwik-Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship, the Tempest Rally on 5th/6th November 2004. Jones will use his Proton Satria Super 1600 on the BRC finale.

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