Flying start to rally session

The military ranges of Eypnt, in the Brecon Beacons, played host to Joe Cruttenden’s fourth rally

The military ranges of Eypnt, in the Brecon Beacons, played host to Joe Cruttenden’s fourth rally in three weeks and his first trophy of the season. Joe was co-driving for the MSA Tarmac Championship contender, John Indri, in his Graham Coffey Solicitors/CAM Autos supported Darrian T90.

Following a day’s recce over the very fast and undulating tarmac roads which run for miles throughout the remote ranges, the pair, seeded fifth, started their rally in the immaculately prepared, Millington rear-engined, two wheel drive Darrian, knowing that they would have quite a battle on their hands against the other top cars in the field, most of which were the top four wheel drive WRC cars in this country.

The first two stages went well: the pair set fast enough times to vindicate their seeding, but a decision to change tyres in an attempt to steal a few more seconds on stages three and four didn’t pay off and they found themselves dropping back into 6th overall. "We knew tyres would make or break us", said Joe, "the tyres we put on were just too soft and we could feel the car moving from side to side on the tread".

A switch back to the original compound of tyre in the service break improved things and on stage five, the longest stage of the day, the pair gained some valuable seconds and reduced the gap to fifth.

With snow threatening on the final two stages, the pair knew they had to push and it paid off: on the last stage they set the second fastest time overall and, helped by the car lying in front of them having issues, they secured fifth overall and second in class.

"It was a great day, we were at 100% all the time and despite the tyre issues the car was spot on all day. We were just sorry that the car ahead of us had problems, as it was being driven by our sponsor," Joe jested.

Next weekend sees Joe returning to Wales for the second round of the Junior F1000 Championship at the Anglesey Circuit.