Round two: Astra Stages Historic RallyWhile Andrew Haddon and Daniel Maclachlan won the event, maximum points went to Stuart Clarke and Peter Thomas on the seconds round of the 2005 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge, the Astra Stages on Saturday (9 April).
Eight challenging stages in the Clocaenog and Aberhirnant forests awaited crews in the second Classic round of the season and it went wrong early on for Toyota Corolla crew Dave Cobb/Allen Craven when their gearbox expired on the opening stage at Alwen.
For much of the rally, Clarke/Thomas led the category with a stirring performance on what was effectively their Classic debut. A minor engine problem had sidelined Clarke on the opening stage of the Robin Hood Rally, but now the Escort Mk2 was flying and he led into the final two stages in Clocaenog.
However, Haddon had been chasing hard in his Rothmans-liveried Mk2 and, with a monster attack, grabbed the lead in Clocaenog Mid to snatch victory by 21s. "We dragged it out of the garage for a late entry," said Haddon. "I was getting a bit carried away at the end," he added. With Haddon not registered for the championship, Clarke took maximum points. "I drove too hard on the last two stages; too much sideways," he joked on the finish ramp.
Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James claimed third in their Mk2, but could easily have finished higher. They were just a second down on Clarke after three stages, but lost 45s with a puncture in Penllyn. "We didn’t hit anything, but we probably went too brave on the slatey stuff," said Lloyd. They finished the stage, but the time lost left them third at the finish.
Another crew that could so easily have taken the spoils was Martin Freestone/Chris Heyes in their Mk2. They finished just two seconds behind Clarke/Thomas, but a minute's road penalties dropped them to fourth after an attacking performance. Meanwhile, three punctures and two alternators cost Dick Slaughter/Dave Taylor badly in their Mk2!
A fine class D3 victory went to Mark and Brett Clifford after what they described as a perfect day in their Escort Mk2, finishing well clear of the Opel Kadett GTE of Bryan Gill/Nigel Hutchinson. Despite struggling badly for grip, Stephen Hall/Aggie Foster took class D4 in their Triumph TR7V8.
