April 27, 2010

SupplyUK Hire Shops supported crew of Faulkner & Foy fly to third overall on Granite City Rally

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy finished the Station Garage Mitsubishi Granite City Rally in a splendid third place overall and the crew were delighted to spray the champagne at the finish following a challenging day.

The BSW Timber Mitsubishi Evo 6 crew started the 3rd round of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship at car 1 having finished first overall in 2009, the event which attracted over 100 crews was based in Aberdeen.

The rally consisted of 6 stages totalling 45 miles, it was Cockermouth’s Paul Benn in his Ex Colin McRae Ford Focus World Rally Car who was fastest through the 3.98 Pitfichie stage. Mike was 3rd fastest; the top 8 crews were were separated by 7 seconds such was the pace of the front runners...

Stage 2 was 7.3 miles through Whitehaugh Mike was joint 5th and dropped to 7th overall, the stages were particularly gravelly and the Evo 6 driver was struggling with traction, it would appear this was more of a problem than first realised.

Stage 3 was 7 miles through Glasindarroch, the stage still affected by snow with several miles of snow banks impacting on the crew’s rhythm and flow. The gravel again appeared to effect the traction and although 3rd fastest through the stage Mike was concerned that the pace was effected by what appeared to be a slipping clutch.

The Supply UK Hire Shops backed crew traced the slipping clutch problem at service to be gearbox oil leaking onto the clutch, the earlier traction problems now becoming clear.
Mike was concerned about the clutch “we are struggling with traction as a result of the clutch slipping, I’m not sure how much time this is costing, we may struggle to catch David and Jock and with so many quick boys behind we need to up the pace again” said Mike at service.

The final 3 stages were through Blackhall, Genfarquhar and 10.6 miles through Fetteresso.
Mike was joint fastest in stage 4 sharing the top time with Jock Armstrong to move up to place overall, In the hope of reducing the impact of the slipping clutch the service crew obtained some flour from a friendly pub which was used it to reduce the oil on the clutch.

The final 2 stages saw the BSW Timber backed crew retain 3rd overall and arrive at the Aberdeen finish courtesy of the “flourery” assistance. Returning to the finish Mike and Navigator Peter Foy were positive about the result “I’m pleased with the outcome today “said Mike “we were gutted with the traction issues and being seventh overall after stage 2 we were determine to fight back. Finishing 3rd is a solid result, the failure on the Border’s was a blow but this keeps our championship on track” continued Mike.

Final results:
1 David Bogie (Dumfries) Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 41.26
2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas) Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza 41.43
3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge) Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 42.00
4 David Wilson (Alness) Drew Sturrock (Laurencekirk) Mitsubishi Evo 42.24
5 Alick Kerr (Bothwell) Neil Shanks (Elgin) Subaru Impreza 42.36
6 Paul Benn (Cockermouth) Richard Cooke (Keswick) Focus WRC 42.50

Next event the Jim Clarke Reivers Rally 30th May 2010