Rally drivers battle Storm Arwen in RAC challenge

Storm Arwen, heavy snow, freezing temperatures, sheet ice, and mud all played its part on last weekend's epic event over 225 gruelling miles, writes Paul Willetts.

Newly crowned British Historic Rally Champions Ben Friend together with Cliffy Simmons finishing a superb fourth overall first in class just six seconds shy of third. Meanwhile, Robert Gough together with Hereford's Jack Bowen, in on only his second rally in 17 years, took a superb sixth overall and third in class in the DMS run Escort RS1800.

" What a rally what an adventure, thanks to the boys the car has been magnificent, also all our sponsors, but the unsung heroes of this rally are the marshals out there for hours in the cold,thanks to Colin and his team for one tough rally, time for a beer now," smiled Friend.

Gough too had driven a fabulous event to finish sixth.

" Wow what an event, huge thanks to Jack for keeping on the straight and narrow," said Gough.

"Andy Davis at DMS for a great car, thanks to my dad for the sound advice he gave me at the start about driving your own rally.

"Sixth place is better than I ever imagined on Thursday evening, again massive thanks to the organisers, officials marshals who all deserve a huge credit from all the competitors."

Sacha Kakad with James Aldridge on the notes finished a superb 10th on his first outing in a historic car.

" That was bonkers ice, snow, rain fog," said Kakad.

"I learnt every stage and just kept my nose clean and 10th is great reward for the team."

DAY ONE

Thursday's opening leg of four tests in Kershope forest saw the earlier demise of one of the pre event favourites Roger Chilman when the Securcom, Dansford, Morspan, Connop and Sons,Evans Cleaning backed Escort RS1800 left the road on the opening test caught out on the sheet ice,and he was out.

Another local crew in trouble were Steve Bennett with Osian Owen in the Bennett Tyres Escort RS1800 alternator failure saw them  drop to 118th after stage one. 

But the opening loop had gone well for both Friend and Gough staying out of trouble was key in the treacherous conditions. 

"After 17 years away people said I was bonkers to do this rally,but I've plenty of miles to play myself back into it,and what a baptism of fire out there it's lethal." said Gough who held 15th overall despite a puncture near the end of the last stage,with Friend just on the edge of top ten in 11th,Bennett now in full fettle upto 49th.

RAC Rally veterans Theo Bengry with Les Forsbrook alongside in the beautiful Leominster Car Auctions Opel Ascona 400 holding 58th.

DAY TWO

Friday's loop offered a further eight stages in the main Kielder complex,Rac Rally classics such as Clintburn, Bewshaugh, Pundershaw, Falstone and Chirdonhead totalling over 100 miles in a area where eagles even fear to tread.

The morning loop was icy underfoot but with blue sky and warming sunshine making the grip levels inconsistent. 

After the first loop Friend was up to 8th overall with consistent times in the Allglass,Cooper Tires shod Escort RS1800, Gough was now bedding himself in nicely  up to 10th despite another puncture on the opening test of the day," Steve Bennett was much happier now 26th and stated.

"That last stage was superb we need more stages like that." 

Bengry was  upto 46th in the Ascona 400.

But Storm Arwen arrived with a vengeance by late afternoon add to that heavy snow the second loop of those four stages resembled lapland,and made things very difficult for everyone. 

"That was crazy those last two in darkness,swirling snow, lights on lights off total lottery, were just glad to be here," said Friend now holding 7th.  

Gough also had moved up to 9th his only issue was visibility in the snow. 

Bennett was the man on the move upto 14th after a impressive drive from 118th after the opening test. 

Rac Veterans Bengry and Forsbrook struggled through the heavy snow strewn stages to hold 35th overnight, these two were one of a host crews stuck in heavy snow, fallen trees on the main road back to Carlisle, finally arriving back at 02.30am Saturday morning. 

DAY THREE

Saturday morning should have seen cars tackle 75 miles in the Scottish border forests but Storm Arwen added to heavy snow, fallen trees left lots of competitors,officials marshals stuck in Kielder forest overnight forced to sleep in their cars,some crews made it to a hotel in Langholm where they opened their function room overnight. 

Clerk of the Course Colin Heppenstall immediately suspended the rally, cancelled the Saturday loop due to the insufficient rest for competitors, officials,marshals plus the amount of trees down in the Scottish forests made it virtually impossible to access them.

So at 1pm Saturday a statement read the rally will resume Sunday has planned at  noon from Welshpool in Mid Wales but the loss of mileage continued when it became apparent both Gartheniog tests Sunday were scrapped due to a possible landslide.

DAY FOUR

119 crews restarted Sunday with two loops of stages in Dyfnant and Dyfi totalling some 46 miles again overnight snow had left the roads incredible slippery.

After the first loop in fading light, which saw long time leader Jason Pritchard crash out, Ben Friend now held 6th reporting no problems apart from icy stages has he was embroiled in a great battle for 5th with Irishman Adrian Hetherington. 

Gough on the other hand was upto 6th despite a few heart stopping moments on the ice.

"We were doing well over 100mph in those two on sheet ice, not good at my age for the heart rate,especially when you see what happened to Jase," laughed Gough

Sadly this was the last we saw of Steve Bennett has valiant efforts came to nowt in Dyfnant 2 with gearbox failure when 13th.

With temperatures now well below freezing the second loop passed without too much incident has cars started to arrive at the overnight halt in Machynlleth. 

The final Dyfi stage saw Friend lose well over a minute to Hetherington and dropped within the clutches of 7th placed Rhys Yates.

"We've lost a shed load in there,we've had a few moments,it's very icy and we lost the confidence so just made sure we came out,damage limitations, Adrian got a good gap to us now,but tomorrow is another day so we,ll keep the pressure on," Said Simmons. 

Robert Gough had no issues apart from the icy stages.

Theo Bengry was still climbing the leaderboard now 31st.

DAY FIVE

Monday's final leg offered some 40 miles with two loops of the Walter's Arena and Crychan tests interspersed with the 4 mile Glasfynydd stage not used since 1982.

Again heavy overnight frost made the stages treacherous and once again the leaderboard was stood on its head when leader Paul Barrett rolling his Escort RS1800 out of the rally on the mornings opening test,closely followed by 2nd place Osian Pryce who snapped a stub axle on his Escort RS1800, this left the Porsche 911 of Ryan Champion way out in front with a three minute lead over young Seb Perez with Hetherington now 3rd Friend 4th Yates 5th and Robert Gough completing the top 6.

But Hetherington to had been off the road loosing nearly 2 minutes and was now in the clutches of Friend who was 40 seconds back.

It was here the Allglass driver now attacked hard with three fastest times and one second fastest time on the remaining four tests but just six seconds shy of Hetherington at the end,settling for 4th overall 1st in class.