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HALESOWEN RALLY CREW PULL OFF STUNNING VICTORY

Halesowen Rally Team Neil Matthews and John Connor pulled off a great sporting feat winning the BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE on Saturdays Yorkshire Rally driving their Dunlop shod Vauxhall Nova.

The crew really needed to win the event to secure any hope of the championship but things did not go to plan from the off.

"On stage 1 in Langdale Forest we caught and passed the first of our main rivals of the day, pushing on through the stage and trying to make up time, we suffered a heavy landing. This threw off the alternator belt and turned off the intercom" said Matthews. "Our service crew did a fantastic job in the only 10 minute service slot of the day, putting the car back together in record time."

Stage 2 the famous Dalby Forest went much better and the Bearwood Washcraft backed crew emerged 3rd overall.

Further drama struck on the Gale Rigg stage when they arrived on the scene of an accident. "The next of our main rivals had also suffered problems and they were also on a time recovery mission but unfortunately over cooked it, rolling twice on the stage." Explained co-driver Connor. "Rules state you must stop if first on the scene. There were spectators all over the road and the car . We slowed to a walking pace but fortunately were given the OK sign by the crew. This obviously cost us time. We had been keeping a close eye on all our other competitors and we knew we were now in a strong position going into the last stage of the day. I told Neil to make sure he got the car to the finish."

But gremlins struck again when the TJ Wheels machine picked up a puncture half way through the Crompton Forest Stage costing more time and dropping the pair back to 5th overall and 1st in the 1600cc class.

"When we arrived at the finish we really did not know if we had done enough." Said Matthews. "But we had, just! This is my first championship victory and it still hasn't sunk in."

"I've been rallying for 25 years and this event has been good to me in the past but winning this championship, at this level, on the last event of the year, when really we only had a mathematical chance of doing so, is very special." Said Connor.

The pair have won free entries into next years British Rally Championship which may dictate what they do next.

Further information is available from John Connor: 07730 070097

www.rallybrcchallenge.co.uk

 

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