Rally championship win for Cruttenden

Joe Cruttenden and Chris Jones in the Rallyschool supported Mazda 2

Newhey rally co driver Joe Cruttenden, sitting alongside fellow Rallyschool Instructor, Chris Jones, in the Rallyschool supported Mazda 2, clinched the 1400L BTRDA Rally Championship at the weekend, with a class win on the Cambrian Rally, the final round of the 8 rally BTRDA series.

The Cambrian Rally, based in Llandudno, ran over 8 stages, 6 using the forests of North Wales, and 2 tarmac runs on the Great Orme.

The second of the two runs through the famous tricky stages of Penmachno almost brought the rally to an early end for Joe and Chris. A very fast down hill section, known as the Ski Run, saw the pair go off the road and hit a tree stump.

“We had lost our intercom earlier in the stage,” said Joe, “But luckily the car only suffered minor damage to the sump guard, and we were able to continue.”

The off meant the pair lost their lead and one minute to their closest rivals, Rochdale's Steve Brown and Paul Stringer. With the intercom fixed, Joe and Chris were able to increase their pace, and stage by stage they clawed back the time they had lost. By the time they completed their second run through the Penmachno stages they had taken a 15 second lead with only the two tarmac runs round the Orme remaining.

The pair finished 1st in class and 24 seconds ahead of Steve and Paul.

“It was a great drive by Chris, we never backed off and I don't recall having time to look up from my pace notes during any of the stages,” said Joe, “It's been a brilliant end to a tough session, with hard battles with Steve and Paul along the way. But thanks to the Rallyschool, Matt Griffin, his family and Chris Jones for this finish this weekend, I am 1400L Co-Driver Champion.”

Joe also finished 2nd in the Junior Co driver Championship and 6th in the overall co driver award for 1400 class.

Joe, in his final year at University, is looking forward to the next session and a possible seat with a works team.