Last win of season for Joe Cruttenden

Joe and Chris competed in a Super1000 Toyota Aygo

English Junior Rally Co-driver champion Joe Cruttenden from Newhey competed in his final rally of the season last weekend. Joe teamed up with the Pirelli Kick Junior1000 Rally champion, Chris Ingram from Manchester, to compete in the Grizedale stages.

Joe and Chris, who were competing in a Super1000 Toyota Aygo, supported by Middleton Sheet Metal and run by Coppcut Toyota, had an incredible start to the rally, finishing the first 7 mile night stage some 30+ seconds ahead of their nearest rivals in the 1400cc category.

This was some feat for the pair as they had the smallest car in the rally. They also managed to beat more powerful 4wd machinery as well.

Joe said: “Chris and I had never competed together before, but I knew Chris was a quick driver and he certainly confirmed that.

“The first 7 mile stage on Friday night was the first time Chris had driven at night in a rally, and to set a time that was not only faster than all the 1400 cars, but faster than some four wheel drive cars was amazing.”

He added: “The 6 stages on the Saturday saw us set fast times again.”

On the Sunday morning the pair knew what they had to do: “We knew we only had to have steady runs through the stages,” said Joe, “Grizedale is very fast and can catch you out, which it did when we hit a bank hard in stage 3, losing us a bit of time, and on stage 7 we got a puncture, but luckily it was towards the end of the stage.”

The pair finished first in class, 4th 2wd and a creditable 14th overall.