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With this weekend’s International Yorkshire and Trackrod Challenge Rallies hosting the finale of the Fiesta SportTrophy (FST) and SportChallenge (FSC), fans were in for a real spectacle as 11 crews prepared to do battle for both the win and the Championship.
After an intense day of competition in the FST – in which Osian Pryce, Jussi Kumpumäki or Nick Cristofaro could have been crowned champion – it was Pryce whose impressive showing of speed and maturity saw the Welshman secure his maiden victory in the series as well as the Championship. As part of his prize, the newly crowned champion will test the Ford Fiesta WRC in November with one-to-one tuition from Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team star, Jari-Matti Latvala.
Elsewhere in the FSC, Jack Rowe wrapped up what has been a dominant second half of the season for the youngster with his 5thconsecutive win of the series as well as the Championship laurels. As 2011 FSC Champion, Rowe will also receive a once in a life time test in November with tuition from an M-Sport nominated driver.
season and the FSC Castrol Hard Charger Award. Scholes maintained 2nd in both the rally and the Championship with Brown securing the final podium position in 3rd. Elsewhere, Parpottas’s stage wins saw him leap-frog Simpson for 4th.
The FST kicked off with an eventful first stage as Championship hopeful and winner of the last round in Ulster, Kumpumäki, was forced into an early retirement. After hitting a rock on a fast right-hander, Kumpumaki and co-driver Mikael Korhonen subsequently lost steering putting an end to both their rally and their championship charge.
There was better news for the father-and-son pairing of Kit and Tim Leigh however, who showed some good speed to lead the FST field by 2.5 seconds ahead of Championship rivals, Pryce and Cristofaro. Alex Laffey, regaining confidence after a big impact in Ulster left the Myerscough College student bruised and co-driver Chris Williams with a broken collar bone, held 4th with Louise Cook taking it easy through the fast stages in 5th.
SS2 showed just how close the battle for victory would be as Cristofaro took the fastest stage time by just 0.2 seconds. Leigh retained the lead with a 5.2 second advantage over Pryce with Laffey and Cook maintaining 4th and 5th respectively.
Another fastest stage time from Cristofaro closely followed by Pryce in SS3 intensified the battle as Leigh’s lead slipped to just 3.1 seconds with Cristofaro a further 3.6 seconds adrift in 3rd. Laffey remained 4th, 6 minutes ahead of Cook consolidating her strong Championship position in 5th.
SS3 also marked the first stage for the FSC crews with a dominant Rowe leading from the off. The former Junior British Motorcross Champion’s closest rival and early Championship leader, Phil Scholes, lay just 1.9 seconds adrift in 2nd with Jamie Brown and Tony Simpson 3rd and 4th respectively. Elsewhere, there were problems for Alex Parpottas after an off damaged the rear of his Ford Fiesta ST, losing the youngster over a minute and a half in the process.
SS4 in the FST saw Leigh mount the offensive as a fastest stage time saw him increase his lead to almost 10 seconds. Happy with the stages, Pryce maintained 2ndwith Cristofaro 3rd ahead of Laffey and Cook.
As for the FSC, Rowe increased his lead over Scholes to 10.9 seconds with Brown maintaining the final podium position in 3rd. Simpson remained 4th with a recovering Parpottas setting the 2nd fastest stage time in 5th.
A dramatic SS5 saw a change at the head of the FST as a gearbox problem dropped the early leader to 3rd. Cristofaro recovered the top spot, just 8.9 seconds up on Pryce in 2nd with Laffey increasing his advantage over Cook in 5th.
SS5 of the FSC and Rowe continued to impress with another fastest stage time to increase his lead to 14.4 seconds over Scholes. Brown maintained his podium position in 3rd with Simpson 4th and Parpottas continuing his charge in 5th.
Another dramatic stage in the FST and a broken driveshaft off the start line for Cristofaro saw the second retirement of a Championship contender. Pryce became the 3rd leader of the day with Leigh climbing to 2nd, 26.7 seconds ahead of Laffey and Cook.
Elsewhere there was no change in the FSC as Rowe increased his lead over Scholes in 2nd and Brown in 3rd.
The remaining three stages saw a cool and collected Pryce steadily increase his lead to bring his Ford Fiesta R2 home to claim his maiden victory of the season as well as the title: 2011 Fiesta SportTrophy Champion. Leigh did well, despite his problems, to maintain 2nd. Laffey was happy with a podium position in 3rd while Cook brought her Ford Fiesta ST home in 4th to secure the runner-up spot in the Championship.
The FST Castrol Hard Charger Award for the highest number of stage wins epitomised the closely fought season with a three way tie between Pryce, Leigh and Cristofaro; each with three fastest stage times to their name.
As for the FSC, despite a late charge from Parpottas to take the final two stages, Rowe proved unstoppable wrapping up the Championship with his 5th win of the
FST winner, Osian Pryce, said:
"At the start of the year a Championship win was not the target and then even when we changed the car [to the Ford Fiesta R2] a Championship win was still not the target. We were just seeing what happened. Then we went to Ulster and it really boosted our confidence. Of course we didn't like to take then win the way we did with dropped scores and Jussi [Kumpumäki] and Nick [Cristofaro] dropping out, but that is the way it is. The win really hasn't sunken in yet."
FSC winner, Jack Rowe, said:
"If someone had told me I would be BRC Challenge and FSC champion at the start of the year I would not have believed them. Words cannot describe how happy we are with how the year has gone. I’m a determined guy and want to be the best in whatever I do whether it be motocross or rallying."
The two Champions, along with a wildcard nomination from each series, will now contest the FST International Shootout in November – a contest for the most impressive competitors from each national FST championship to pit their physical fitness, mental capabilities, media savvy and of course driving ability against one another in an attempt to win a year’s placement with the team behind Ford’s assault on the WRC, M-Sport Ltd. |
