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18/04/2005: "2005 Pirelli Kwik Fit British Rally Championship"

The 2005 Pirelli Kwik Fit British Rally Championship was held at Brancote barracks in Nuneaton this weekend, with a mix of modern rally cars and some vehicles from the 70's and 80's joining the fray.

The morning saw an oppurtunity to peruse the cars of the day, and after lunch the cars took a slow convoy of the stage, to get familiar with the terrain. Apparantly even this was too much for Andy Leece's F2000 Renault Clio, which bowed out with one dark cloud of smoke.

After the warmup the cars were let loose, and showmanship ensued. The 18 year-old Matthew Wilson showed real promise on his run and he was followed by a succession of drivers who managed to drive their cars in anything but a forwards direction.

The 'slowly sideways' cars were a spectator favourite and the Production category was well dealt with by Justin Dale in his new Subaru when he demolished one of Greenlight's on-board cameras later in the day.

In the end, Irish Rally Legend Austin McHale shone on the tarmac, with two consistently fast track times only a tenth of a second apart.

All in all an enjoyable event, with fireworks and battle of the bands for spectators that had braved the day, here's the run down of the day's times:


1. Austin McHale Ford Focus WRC 1:50.8
2. Rory Galligan Mitsubishi Evo 8 1:52.9
3. James Wozencroft Suzuki Ignis 1400 1:56.6
4. Matthew Wilson Ford Focus WRC 1:56.8
4. Justin Dale Subaru Impreza 1:56.8
6. Iwan Rees Subaru Impreza 1:59.4
7. Ollie Marshall Skoda Fabia WRC 2:01.1
8. Simon Hiles Peugeot 206 Gti 2:03.5
9. Matt Beebe MG ZR 1400 2:03.7
10. Barry Clark Subaru Impreza 2:05.1
11. Dom Mernock Peugeot 206Xsi 2:11.5
12. Steven Graham MG ZR 1400 2:12.4
13. Kate Heath Subaru Impreza 2:14.7
14. Alison Steed MG ZR 1400 2:22.8