News Flash 3

Issued at 13:15hrs    19.4.2008

Yorkshireman Darren Moon scored a maiden British Historic Rally Championship win when he took his Escort to victory on a tough Pirelli Historic Rally, inheriting the lead after overnight pacesetter Jimmy McRae’s Porsche left the road near the finish of the Archies Rigg stage.  Moon’s winning margin was a mere 10 seconds ahead of the RS 1800 of Jason Lepley with third placed Dick Slaughter a full minute further back.

The second day of the Pirelli Historic Rally featured three long and very fast stages in the famous Kielder forest complex.  McRae was immediately quickest through the opening seven miler just ahead of Moon, Jason Lepley and Tim Mason’s Porsche. Patrick Watts again headed the Category 1 cars.

The next stage “The Shanks” saw McRae’s Porsche go off the road near the finish, Lepley sportingly stopping to ensure the crew were OK.  The final stage, 9 miles of classic flowing roads in Pundershaw, saw Tim Mason’s Porsche really fly to set quickest time ahead of Dick Slaughter and Jason Lepley.  James Stait’s MG Midget went off and clouted a large tree stump and both Richard Williams and Clive Alcock’s Saab visited one of Kielder’s infamous ditches.

Watts’ dominance of Category 1 was complete, the Sunbeam Tiger finishing well over a minute ahead of John Keatley’s Porsche.  The third podium finish also going to Ireland in the shape of Dessie Nutt’s Porsche.  Robert Lomax’s Ford Escort took Category 2 after a consistent run, 20 seconds up on the RS1600 of Ernie Graham, with Ken Forster, now with a two litre Pinto engine in his Escort, close behind.

After the rigours of the unforgiving forest tracks, the rally finishes with a high profile awards ceremony on the finish ramp located in Carlisle’s historic city centre.

Provisional Results

1.  Daren Moon / John McNichol                 Ford Escort                56:16.1

2.  Jason Lepley / Howard Pridmore          Escort 1800               56:26.3

3.  Daren Slaughter / Geoff Dearing           Escort 1800               57:18.1