Mid Wales Stages 2008Round 3 of Yokohama 205 Challege, 28th/29th June 2008 Report by James Greenwood The Mid Wales Stages, based in Newtown, Powys, took place over the weekend of 28 – 29th June 2008, based around the
challenging gravel tracks of the Sweet Lamb Rally Complex and Hafren Forest. Brilliant sunshine greeted the crews for
Saturday Scrutineering but the threat of Sunday showers suggested slippy conditions would prevail. Dan Corner / James Greenwood (Cornermotorsport.com / Cyclogicalshop.co.uk) were looking forward to the event, on the back of their outright win at Twyford Wood earlier in the year.
SS2, Hafren north saw the hard charging Peugeot develop steering rack problems and saw Corner/Greenwood still not quite on the pace – a late call into a deep uphill hairpin dropping 7 seconds over Mat / Daz Smith who were stretching their lead – with Crowley and Thompson hot on their heels. First service in Sweet Lamb saw the welsh weather close in with torrential rain and high winds testing the resolve of the
hardy service crew. The car was sound and tyres working well, but a stiffening rack was praying on Dan’s mind – “We
wanted to be in the top 3 by first service, but we cant quite find the pace we need – we need to start marching up the
order”, commented an upbeat Corner. The second service stop showed a binding in the steering column causing the notchy steering problem, and an ease in the
weather favoured the service crews and marshals. SS 4, Sweet Lamb followed (Dan’s favourite) – 12 miles of some of the roughest terrain ever rallied upon saw Corner / Greenwood change up several gears and totally gel storming the stage in a driving master class pulling out over 30 seconds, passing Mat / Daz Smith and Russ Thompson / Andy Murphy and lying second.
Pikes Peak, a short 6-mile sprint saw the pairing charge the 3 miles up and 3 miles down stage, taking yet more time out of their competitors and setting one of the top times. Back to rally HQ saw the pairing a provisional second – an equal result to last year. However, timing anomalies,
including Crowley’s amazing SS3 time, saw the results turned on their head giving Corner/ Greenwood outright victory by 11
seconds. Dan’s earlier interview with Sky for second place had to be scrapped, and rapidly reshot as the winner. A truly fantastic result for the championship, the service / management crews of Ed, Ade, Andy, Paul, Max, Cheryl, Emma and Hannah did a great job of keeping the car going (the steering rack truly giving up at rally finish) – as did all the marshals in coping with horrendous weather conditions. “This has bought us up to equal 2nd overall in the championship, but we really need to work on our early pace as we weren’t quite on it at the start – if we can start as quickly as we finished this one, a championship victory is a real possibility, but we still have 4 rounds to complete. Last year we struggled with Swansea Bay so it will interesting to see what happens in 3 weeks time”, said James Results: Mid Wales National Rally, Corner/Greenwood – 22nd overall, 1st in class, 1st Peugeot Home | News / Info | Calendar | Event Reports | Photo Gallery | Rally Teams | Contacts | Links - Updated Monday, 25 August, 2008 |
SS1 saw a great start,
but deep into the stage the accelerator footrest parted company trying to wedge itself under the pedals – Dan managed to
remove it but the pairing consequently found themselves sliding along a ditch. They recovered to finish the stage but ended
4th overall amongst the challenge crews.
“That was amazing, the
course is so cut up our water flew out on the second corner, my notes were doing their best to fly out of my hands – so I
just kept my head down calling out those hairpins – Dan kept the car flat out as long as possible and refused to lift –
sideways into the water splash and through the gateway was interesting, and how we missed that stranded Escort through the
dip I have no idea” beamed Greenwood at the end of the stage.
