Jack Rowe takes maiden victory at Ulster Challenge Rally

Ulster Challenge Rally 19th/20th 2011
 
Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship support series

BRC Challenge round four



Young Lancastrian Jack Rowe has become the latest winner of the BRC Challenge, taking his maiden series victory on tarmac in an eventful end to day one of the Ulster event. The former motocross rider has put himself on top of the Championship standings after his title rival, Simon Moore, failed to finish.


Rowe had been locked in a three-way battle throughout the day’s tough Antrim stages with Moore and Richard Sykes. A battle that looked destined to go to the wire certainly didn’t disappoint as tyre choice and nerve became paramount.


With the weather conditions ever changing, the driver’s choice of rubber could and would prove pivotal. Heading into the infamous Knockboy stage, Rowe decided to change to intermediate tyres, while Sykes opted for slicks.


Rowe’s choice was accurate, but only by a small margin of 1.9 seconds. Leaving the top three now covered by less than twelve seconds with two stages to go. After having a spin on Knockboy 2, Rowe, committed to his tyre choice found Simon Moore posting the top time on the second run through Glendun.


The ever consistent Moore fell victim to an unfamiliar error on the very last stage, which caused the Northeast driver to take a wheel off his Renault Clio. The Torr Head stage, now being run in complete darkness, claimed its second high profile victim when the slick-shod Citroen C2R2 Max of Sykes gained a puncture. With no choice but to stop and change the wheel, Sykes and co-driver Simon Taylor dropped to fifth.


With both rivals now out of the running, Rowe was clear to take his well deserved victory. Jamie Brown and Craig Burgess in their Fiesta ST picked up the pieces - and the spoils - to finish second overall knowing the reputation of the Antrim roads, the Ford pairing opted for a cautious approach to take their first podium of the 2011 season.


The biggest shock of the day - and perhaps the season - arose when Garry Pearson and Laura Marshall in their Nissan Micra Super 1000, finished third. The Scottish duo posted excellent times throughout the day and truly deserved the end result having been there to take advantage of the misfortune of others.


Ruary MacLeod brought his Honda Civic home fourth ahead of Sykes in fifth and Alex Parpottas in sixth. James Smith in another Micra finished well in seventh, after an enjoyable experience for the youngster.


Becky Kirvan and Kaz Watts continued their learning curve on the black stuff by finishing ninth overall, behind the likeable Manxman, Kevin Vondy in a well deserved eighth.


But, as with all double-header events, the crews have to do it all again on Saturday!

- Simon Moss -