The Forest of Dean Motor Club and Forresters Car Club co
promoted last weekends Architexture Architects Dixies Challenge Rally on the
daunting Epynt tarmac ranges last Sunday.
The event which was a round of both
HRCR Stage Masters and Old Stager series, Welsh Historic and King of Epynt
championships also a round of the
Minisport Mini Cup, and attracted not only a full but also high quality entry.
80 cars lined up for what turned out to be 10 tests
totaling some 43 miles in dry but cold conditions.
The undoubted modern day "King of Epynt" Damian
Cole with Jamie Edwards alongside, the Abergavenny driver totally dominated the
event with fastest on every stage in the Get Connected Fiesta WRC, and stormed
to a convincing victory by 1 minute 20 seconds.
Mini veterans Eric Davis with Russ Joseph on the notes
had a difficult day but still came away with 29th overall & 2nd in class in
the Dennis Motorsport Mini, on stage 2 he thought his day was done, with no oil
pressure, but it turned out to be a split oil cooler which was sorted in
service, then issues with rear suspension problems, left the rear end a bit wild
over the fast stages.
For Joseph it was a busy weekend co-driving Phil Skipp to
23rd on Saturdays Mira Stages in his Astra.
Alan Marriage/Colin Jenkins in the Dave Jenkins
Motorsport run Escort RS, had a trouble free run to 31st overall & 6th in
class Ross on Wye duo Jason / Elspeth Watkins finished 43rd & 7th in class
in their Peugeot 106 Lisa Chappelle had Ross Motor clubs Mike Jode alongside
for the first time, it's was also her first time on both the tarmac ranges, and
pace notes, the Brecon youngster had a trouble free day and got quicker has the
day went on to finish 50th overall & 5th class in her Citroen Saxo.
It was a somewhat fraught day for Mini Cup front runner Ryan
Taylor, with co-driver Hollie Churchill, mechanical issues saw him take 2 stage
maximums, but his perseverance paid off with 54th overall & 3rd in class.
Sadly for Cinderford plumber Jason Gardner who had young
Dan Petrie on the notes, the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS1800, engine failure
on stage two brought his event to a premature end.
Of the 80 starters, 54 made to the end on what proved an
extremely popular event.
Paul Willetts Motorsport Media
Photographs copyright - Chris Huish
