Dukeries drivers make their mark at Donington Park rally

Organised by Dukeries Motor Club, the event reaped rewards for local club members who excelled on all seven stages amongst some of the top players in the penultimate round of the MSN Circuit Rally Championship

The fastest time in all seven stages of the Dukeries Motor Club’s Donington Rally saw David Henderson and Sion Cunniff’s Ford Fiesta R5 take a second successive win in the penultimate round of the Championship.

It was damp and greasy for the opening stage with Henderson taking an immediate four seconds lead over Championship leaders Neil Roskell/Andrew Roughead and Dukeries MC’s own John Griffiths/Nigel Wetton, both in Fiesta R5s too.

Barry Morris/Tom Hutchings’ Darrian was a further second back in fourth, with Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt’s Metro 6R4 and Ollie O’Donovan/Ashleigh Morris’ Hyundai R5 completing the initial top six.

Henderson had opted for a super soft tyre on the opener, with most of his rivals having gone for wets.

“Maybe it was a gamble but then I changed to softer again for stage two,” he explained.

Quickest again, the lead was up to 13 seconds as both Roskell and Griffiths had followed Henderson’s early choice and lost out.

Morris was still in fourth, but had stiffened the Darrian’s set up and opted for a harder tyre.

After admitting to being overly cautious on the opening stage, Dukeries duo Andy Scott/Laura Connell had moved their Fiesta S2000T into fifth, with Jasper slipping to sixth.

With another 11 seconds added to his lead on stage three, Henderson was looking comfortable, but behind it was getting desperately close.

Roskell was still second, but only one second up on Griffiths and Morris, now tied in third.

It was all change however on the next stage as Henderson's lead drew to 30 seconds.

It was Morris now in second with Roskell having retired from second place.

Griffiths was still third, from Scott and O’Donovan, but Jasper was running two-wheel drive as his front diff had failed.

The conditions were well suited to the Darrian and Morris was on a mission, but Henderson still had the edge by a second on stage five and continued to increase his lead.

Over the final two stages Henderson continued to lead the way, taking fastest time on every stage to secure a 38 second victory.

Griffiths had decided to push harder to try and close the gap on second placed Morris.

“Then I pushed too hard, made a mistake and it increased the gap,” he admitted, just holding onto third place by just two seconds, from fellow Dukeries MC driver Scott.

“It was that first stage that lost it for me, too cautious and twitchy under brakes,” Scott said.

O’Donovan retained fifth, but was another who felt that the caution on stage one cost him dearly, while in sixth Jasper was delighted to hold his place having run half of the event with just rear wheel drive on the 6R4.

Josh Payton/Jamie Vaughan’s Escort snatched seventh from Dukeries Motor Club’s Martin Hodgson/Tony Jones’ Escort after stage four, while Paul Murro/Callum Cross’s Fiesta R5 and Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas’ Fiesta Rally2 completed the top 10.

The top three in Class A remained unchanged all day, with James/Adrian Hardy’s Nissan Micra taking victory by 57 seconds over Adam/Ray Ripper and Kay Thompson/Charlotte Wainwright’s Micras.

Dukeries George Morrison/Jon Quintrell were fourth in their MG ZR, after fellow Dukeries crew James Greenall/Peter Scott’s Vauxhall Nova hit trouble on stage three.

With a 15 seconds lead on the opening stage, Ben/Andrew Wilkinson’s Peugeot 106 Maxi took the Class B spoils by 1min 4 secs, with Alex Cannon/Alan Carfrae’s Fiesta R2 another three minutes up on the Mini of James Tointon/Gary Dixon.

Dukeries MC members Ian/John Dove had been third in class after the first stage, but retired their Nova on the second, while Marc Mayes/Ben Duke’s Nova completed the top four.

In Class C Josh/Tamsyn Davey’s Darrian set the pace on stage one and were ninth overall. “Then the gear selector broke, we had already lost fourth so pulled out,” Josh explained.

Having been only third on stage one and 14 seconds off the lead Payton went for slicks on stage two, “we were braver and more sideways too,” he added.

With both Davey and the Jason/Lee Wilson second placed Darrian out with clutch failure, Payton’s lead started to grow over Phil House/Nick Beaumont’s Escort.

House had to weld a broken exhaust after stage two, but was being caught by Ryan Connolly/Christopher Allen’s Ford Puma .

Payton won the class by almost three minutes and was seventh overall, with Connolly retaining second from Ken Sturdy/Andrew Funnell’s Avenger and Stephen Sawley/Rob Johnson’s Escort, after House retired with a broken alternator bracket.

In Class D it was Morris from Hodgson all day, with Seamus Morris/Jarlath Kelly’s Darrian third.

“I had no front brakes for a couple of stages, after oil leaked onto the pads,” Hodgson added.

“We were in the top 10 after four stages but managed to knock the ignition off, so pushed hard to try and get it back,” said Seamus after finishing 11th.

There were only two starters in Class E1, with Nick/Crispin Williamson’s Mitsubishi ER5 heading home Dukeries Motor Club regulars Dean Hickling/Geoff Moss’s Impreza.

Stephen Johansen/Colin Stephens were victors in the Mazda MX5 class, with 31 seconds in hand over Paul Gorge/Harriet Worth.

Other Dukeries MC members Marina Miller/Iain Davidson were seventh in class with their Micra, Andy Matthew/Ellie Arnold’s Citroen was eighth in class on their first event, Andy Wright/Nigel Powell’s Honda Civic was ninth in class, Ian “Pip Coulson/Jonathan Haynes’ Ford Focus 13th in class, Ian Haynes/Andrew Tyler’s Fiesta 17th in class and Andy O’Brien/Joanna Prigmore’s Peugeot 20th in class.

In the bigger classes Alasdair Stables/Neil Jones’ Chevette was sixth and Stuart Ranby/Ian Bass’s Escort eighth.

The rally was hailed a success by both organisers Dukeries Motor Club, Motorsport UK Club of the Year, and and Donington Park

Dukeries Motor Club always welcome new members and meets at Mansfield Rugby Union Football Club twice a month, every second and fourth Thursday, Club evening start from 8pm and new members are always welcome.