The second round of the 2016 MAXXIS MSA English Rally Championship was the Somerset Stages, based at Minehead which used a variety of forest stages in the Brendon Hills plus two runs up the famous Porlock Toll Road. There were 54 Maxxis MSA English Rally Championship crews amongst the 123 cars that started the event.
In the hotly contested E5 class Gavin Edwards / Caron Tomlinson (Escort Mk2) took an early lead and despite the best efforts of Boyd Kershaw / Bryan Hull also in an Escort Mk2, they maintained the upper hand, eventually finishing 10sec ahead and an excellent 12th overall. In class E2 the pre event favourites Dave Brick / Keaton Williams (Vauxhall Nova) had built up a substantial lead but they unfortunately retired on the very last stage with a mechanical problem. However, it was not all bad news for the family as sons’ Freddy and Toby Brick also in a Vauxhall Nova inherited the class win.
James Hutchins/ James Hood (Vauxhall Nova) again took the maximum points in class E3 ahead of Tim and Kit Leigh (Fiesta R200), whilst local competitors Chris Hickman / Glyn Thomas (MG ZR) were first in class E1 for standard cars up to 1400cc thanks to some impressive times on the tarmac Porlock stages. However, the closest battle again came in class E4 where there were 7 identical Fiesta ST’s in competition. This contest was again won by Cameron Davies / Lee Taylor ahead of George Lepley / Arwel Jenkins.
The MSA English Championship class winners on the Somerset Stages were: –
Class E1 Chris Hickman / Glyn Thomas MG ZR 48m 48s
Class E2 Freddy Brick / Toby Brick Vauxhall Nova 47m 00s
Class E3 James Hutchings / James Hood Vauxhall Nova 45m 28s
Class E4 Cameron Davies / Lee Taylor Ford Fiesta ST 44m 03s
Class E5 Gavin Edwards / Caron Tomlinson Ford Escort Mk2 42m 14s
68 drivers have scored Championship points so far and class wins on the Somerset Stages see James Hutchings (Vauxhall Nova) and Cameron Davies (Ford Fiesta ST) tying for the lead at the top of the table. The Ford Escorts of Boyd Kershaw and Gavin Edwards are joint 3rd, with George Lepley’s Fiesta in close attendance. From the 1400 class, Freddy Brick’s Nova is currently 6th. Meanwhile Cameron Davies and Freddy Brick are tied at the head of the Junior Drivers table.
A full list all the Championship points are published in the Competitors Section. MAXXIS MSA English Rally Championship Points
The next event in the Maxxis MSA English Rally Championship calendar – the Carlisle Stages in early June – sees all the contenders migrating north to take up the challenge of the exciting stages in the western side of Kielder Forest. More details of the event and entries can be found at Carlisle Stages 2016
Photo is of Chris Hickman / Glyn Thomas (MG ZR) Courtesy of RalliPhotosWales