Rally mixed weekend for Cruttenden

ooops - Joe Cruttenden

A weekend of mixed results for Newhey Co-driver Joe Cruttenden. Joe participated in two rallies this weekend, firstly, on Saturday he competed in the Nicky Grist Quinton Rally in South Wales, sat alongside Matt Griffin, in the distinctive Yellow VW Lupo.

The pair, currently leading their class championship, had a steady start and after the first 3 stages found themselves 1st in class. But, just three junctions into stage four, they cut a corner too much and ended up stuck in the undergrowth on the inside of a sharp corner, teetering on the edge of a twenty foot drop.

“We, seemed to be sucked in by the mud on the corner” said Cruttenden. “We had to climb out of the car very carefully, as we could feel it rocking,. It was like a something out of the Italian job.” Despite their problems they remain class leaders and are now looking towards the Woodpecker Rally later in the year".

Joe then travelled up to Anglesey, to compete in the Enville stages, co driving in the Junior 1000 championship, alongside young Irish driver, Calvin Beattie, in a Nissan Micra. The pair were involved in a battle for a top three place throughout the day, before finally finishing third overall, losing out to the more powerful cars.

"We had a real good rally. Calvin is improving all the time" said Cruttenden, "This is a good confidence boost before we compete in the shoot-out at Silverstone this Thursday, for a chance to drive a works backed Chevrolet Spark".