Newhey rally navigator claims third in Somerset

Joe Cruttenden guides the Lupo rally car around the Somerset course.

Newhey-based rally navigator Joe Cruttenden strengthened his overall position in the BTRDA Rally First Championship last weekend with a third in class finish on the Somerset Stages.

Good times on the opening two stages saw Cruttenden and his driver, Matt Griffin of Blackburn, move up into the top four in their Rallyschool.co.uk run VW Lupo, but a puncture on the third stage meant they lost time and slipped back into seventh place.

“We decided to go for it from the off," said Cruttenden. “This is the first time we have been able to drive the car competitively on the loose forest roads. The first round ended up being a snow rally in the wintery conditions of February, but on the gravel forest tracks it proved to be a quick little car.”

Two runs over the tarmac Porlock Toll Road stage saw the pair set quick times and they found themselves fifth in their class. With three more forest stages to go they decided on a flat out attack, with an 'all or nothing' attitude.

Despite a spin, their grit and determination paid off as fellow competitors struggled. Griffin and Cruttenden surged to a couple of top three stage times, meaning they managed to overhaul the 15 second gap to third place.

“We knew we needed to push, yet despite a spin costing us a few seconds, we were still quick enough through the stages to clinch third," Cruttenden added. “We now know what the car is capable of on gravel, and should be able improve on the next round.”

The team will be competing on the next round of the championship in May on the Plains Rally, through the famous rally forests of North Wales.