Thomas Wins Brands Hatch Winter Stage Rally!

(Dean Thomas Image: M&H Photography)

Stage rallying returned to Brands Hatch and once again opened the 2013 Brands Hatch season with the MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stage Rally on 12th January 2013.

Paul King and Alicia Miles led the event after the first five of eight stages, having won both the first two stages outright. With conditions dry but the stages slippery and rain, snow or sleet forecast for the afternoon, it was a closely fought battle at the front with any one of the top six cars looking like they could take the win at the halfway point.

Stage 5 saw Dean Thomas and Mark Burt, in their Davrian Dav-Tec Mk8, take their first outright stage win of the day and their charge continued throughout the afternoon.

However by Stage 6, with their Davrian showing signs of overheating and only three seconds between them and the second placed Ford Escort RS of King / Miles, and Jeremy Straker / Simon May in their Darrian T9 rapidly closing, the pressure was on with Thomas looking for his first ever overall win on a stage rally.

As darkness started to close in for Stage 7 and a flurry of snow and drizzle making the already interesting conditions trickier, Straker / May won Stage 7 to keep the pressure on. Thomas / Burt went into the final stage with only 10 seconds covering the top three cars of Thomas / Burt, King / Miles and Straker / May.

King / Miles chose the wrong tyres and spun on Stage 8 and despite a scare when Thomas / Burt ran wide at Graham Hill Bend, Thomas / Burt held on to win the 2013 MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stage Rally from the 2012 winner Jeremy Straker.

Chelmsford Motor Club once again secured a full entry within days of entries opening. The capacity field enjoyed the variation of stages on offer, which utilised the full venue including the Indy circuit, paddock, pit lane and rally course. With improved access for spectators with access to Paddock Hill and the rally stage, the event was well supported by spectators, marshals and competitors alike.

Clerk of the Course Gary Nicholls commented, “We are pleased with how everything went and thanks must go to MSV and Jonathan Palmer for their co-operation and continuing their support of stage rallying at Brands Hatch.”

Event winner Dean Thomas said, “I’m really pleased to have picked up my first ever win. With the car overheating on Stage 6, we weren’t sure what would happen but the temperature gauge packed in so we didn’t worry about it. I thought that was it when we went on the grass on the last stage, but I’m really pleased to have won considering the car has been built from nothing as it was just a road car two years ago. Thanks to all involved.”

Chelmsford Motor Club organise many events throughout the year and have over 450 members, the majority of whom are active competitors, marshals and organisers.

Award Winners

1st Overall Dean Thomas / Mark Burt (Class B ) Davrian Dav-Tec Mk8 46:07
2nd Overall Jeremy Straker / Simon May (Class C ) Darrian T9 46:15
3rd Overall Royston Carey / Bridge Carey (Class C ) Renault Clio 172 46:22
1st Class A Tony Capon / Stanley Graham Rover GTi Metro 53:05
1st Class B Brian Stevens / Matt Carter Honda Civic 51:17
1st Class C Paul Diamond / Steve Cox Ford Escort MK 2 46:53
1st Class D Paul King / Alicia Miles Ford Escort RS 46:30
1st Class E Mark Clarke / Richard Arnold Mitsubishi Evo 7 47:41

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