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Coppermines - Grizedale Stages Rally 2009
5th December 2009
Sponsored by Coppermines Cottages and held in the spectacular forests of Cumbria, the 22nd running of the event was another success, albeit in wet conditions.
Ludlow Castle Motor Club member Alex Allingham, aged 25, co driven by Mark Glennerster, secured a career best of 2nd Overall on the 2009 Grizedale Stages Rally.
The Hankook Tyres-backed driver from Stalybridge spun halfway through the first stage, losing a handful of seconds. Despite this Alex / Mark, set third fastest time on the stage.
After Stage 2, Alex / Mark returned to Service to find themselves in 2nd place O/A in a Ford Focus WRC “sandwich”. The leader, Paul Bird, was pulling off into the distance in his £200,000 Focus WRC 07, but only 12 seconds behind them were Michael O’Brien and Patrick Walsh in the Focus WRC 03.
The next stage was just 2.5 miles long which ran twice and created no real problems for Alex, but O’Brien pulled back 3 seconds from him in the 5 miles. Arriving back into the second service he was still in second place with 9 seconds lead over O’Brien and Walsh, and he knew that to keep the place it would mean an all out attack on the last 17 miles of stages. A full out attack was planned for Stages 5 and 6. Emerging from Stage 6 after giving it their all, Alex / Mark had done the job and finished 10 seconds in front of O’Brien and Walsh.
At the finish Alex said ‘ We are delighted to have finished 2nd overall against such opposition, and to be sitting between two modern top flight World Rally Cars in a GP N car is still sinking in. To be first in class by over 2 minutes and setting top three times all day it’s really rewarding. We would like to thank our sponsors Hankook Tyres for the support and excellent service we have had all season.’
Alex and Mark are looking for more sponsors to help in 2010 and are weighing up returning to the BTRDA Rally Series where they were crowned 2009 N4 Champions, or to move to the ANCRO Championship.
Top Ten Results
1 Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick (Ford Focus WRC 07) 46m 27s
2 Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster (Subaru Impreza) 48:14
3 Michael O’Brien/Patrick Walsh (Ford Focus WRC) 48:24
4 Tristan Pye/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza) 49:29
5 Steve Petch/John Richardson (Mitsubishi Lancer) 50:09
6 Paul Cooke/Barry McNulty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 50:34
7 Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson (Subaru Impreza N15) 51:05
8 Gary Tomlinson/Nick Fieldhouse (Subaru Impreza GC8) 51:05
9 Mark Donnelly/John Rowan (Ford Fiesta ST) 51:12
10 Eddie O Donnell Jnr/Eddie O Donnell Snr (Ford Escort) 51:15
Report Russell Kenhard (kentonphotografix) Photo (lawrenceclift photography)
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