David Newall from Linlithgow, co-driven by Peter McLean, who arrived in Carlisle all the way from Temuka New Zealand took their Subaru Iompreza to a first time victory on the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria Rally, coming from behind to overhaul the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Mark I’Anson/ Ronnie Roughead, these two heading the pack for most of day two after the Escorts of early pacesetters Michael Glendinning and Viv Hamill both went off.

Following the main International event, the Tour of Cumbria started with two Friday evening stages in Kershope, the Subaru of Matt Robinson/ Nigel Hutchinson was quickest on the first one from Glendinning/ Hughes but Michael was just warming up and blitzed the opposition second time through to open up a useful 30 second overnight lead from Irish visitor Viv Hamill. These stages saw few dramas although the Sunbeam of Clive Alcock was stranded for a while when he failed to negotiate a tight hairpin junction.

Saturday’s action started in Falstone where Glendinning was in a class of his own and extended his lead over Hamill to nearly a minute. Sadly, the next stage, Bower, saw both these drivers fall victim to Kielder’s blind brows and they were reported well off the road, handing the lead to I’Anson/ Roughead who were quickest from Newall/ McLean.

I’Anson continued to set the pace and as the crews headed back to Service in Carlisle, had a narrow 16 second lead over Newall with the Martin/ Steele Puma some way behind in third place. All was not well with I’Anson’s Mitsubishi however, with the car having to be push started while Newall traced a knocking noise at the rear to a loose wheel.

Back into Kielder for the final loop of three stages and Newall chipped awy at I’Anson’s lead, he was assisted when the Mitsubishi crews intercom packed up and then, at the start of the final stage, the starter motor malfunctioned, leaving Newall/ McLean to ease home by just 16 seconds, with Martin/ Steele a distant third, some 17 minutes in arrears.