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Round 2 of the North West Rally Series, the Carter Mechanical Gunns Stages held in the Hampshire Forests on Saturday night has been run and won. A quality field started the short stage event and after Stage 1 was any one of 4 driver's event for the taking, with only 10 seconds separating Kade Barrett's Plymouth Fire Arrow, the WRXs of Mark Butcher and James Heinrich, and the Commodore of Stuart Rattray. Stage 2 bought the demise of Rattrays charge with the Commodore developing an engine rattle, limping his way through a further 2 stages before a conrod escaped the engine block ending his night. Barrett and Butcher continued to swap stage wins and, heading into the tea break, Barrett had a narrow 15 second lead. After repairing a broken strut top at the break, Novice driver Keith Ablitt then bought his pace to the top of the result sheets consistantly setting top 3 times, eventually taking home the Novice trophy for the Night. Butcher also fell victim to mechanical failure breaking a driveshaft on stage 11 in some unlucky circumstances having to retire, handing an easy win to Kade Barrett and David Weldon making it 2 from 2. A consistant drive by James and Emma Heinrich has seen them sneak into second, also taking out "A Grade 4wd", with Kurt Wyllie and Kristy Mclachlan in their Datsun placing 3rd outright and 1st "A Grade 2wd". Next round will be the Hellyer Rally on 23rd June held in conjunction with a "Tasmanian Rally Series" round at Rocky Cape. Keep your eyes peeled here for further details. Results can be found here or at the usual place down the left. |
