Puncture costs Cruttenden third spot

Cruttenden and Griffin in action in their VW Lupo during The Plains Rally.

An unfortunate bit of luck saw third place snatched away from Newhey Rally co-driver Joe Cruttenden and driver Matt Griffin in the third round round of the BTRDA Rally First Championship, The Plains Rally, last weekend.

A puncture, on the last stage of the rally saw Cruttenden and Griffin's third place disappear by three seconds, as they struggled to find grip to finish the last few hundred metres of the stage.

The pair were competing in the Welsh Forests that were made famous by the RAC rally in the 70's and 80's. They had a steady start on the farm tracks of the first stage, but once they got into the trees of the forest stages they started to increase their speed and set some fast times.

"We knew we had to make some time up after the first stage," said Cruttenden. "We went all out the next few stages and found we had pulled the time back and gained third place. On the fast down hill section, they call the Ski Slope, we were clocking 110 mph in the 1.4 VW Lupo - we now know why it is called the ski slope!"

The pair set out into the last stage in third, but going into the last corner with a puncture gained earlier in the stage, the tyre left the rim, sending the car understeering into a field. They struggled to regain the road, and lost their third place position.

"These things happen in rallying," said Cruttenden. "But the points I earned for fourth place now means I have moved in to third place in the championship and we are now looking forward to the fast stages of the Dukeries stages, Nottingham, in June."

Anyone wishing to know more about sponsoring Cruttenden and Griffin in their distinctive yellow Lupo, should email the Newhey co-driver at joecruttenden@hotmail.com.