Former British GT racer Michael Igoe heads for this Sunday’s Dukeries Rally at Donington Park with a one-point lead in the MGJ Engineering Circuit Rally Championship, after taking his fourth consecutive victory on the Lee Holland Stages at Anglesey recently.  Co-driven by Will Atkins, Igoe changed from a Fiesta Rally2 to a Citroen C3 Rally2 at the end of last year, taking a debut win on December’s Donington Rally. If he wins this weekend, it will be his sixth maximum score in the current Circuit Rally Championship, and with six out of nine rounds counting, he would become champion.

Following Igoe off the start this weekend will be current (outgoing) Circuit Rally Champions and Dukeries members John Griffiths and Emma Morrison, while Rallycross ace Ollie O’Donovan is at three, with Ashleigh Morris sharing his Hyundai i20 R5. Paul Murro / Craig Simkiss were third at Anglesey in their Fiesta R5. Murro currently lies third in his Class in the Championship and fifth overall.
Daniel Bird / Nigel Barber’s Fiesta R5 are starting fifth. Bird is still a relative newcomer, but has already shown his pace. He will also be remembered for completing a stage at Cadwell in November, with a fencing post protruding from the front of the car.  Usually in a Class B Mitsubishi, Wayne Larbalestier / Bonnie Kelly step up to Class A for the first time in Skoda Fabia R5 and will be starting sixth on the road.

At seven Lee and Cole Hastings’ Subaru Impreza heads Class B, while the rest of the top 10 is the battle for Class C honours. Martin Hodgson / Tony Jones’ Escort currently head the class and are fourth overall in the Championship too. James Garner / Jordan Joines’ Darrian will be chasing Hodgson all the way, after some close duels in recent rounds, while Alasdair Stables and Neil Jones are back with their Vauxhall Chevette HSR after missing Brands Hatch and the Lee Holland Stages.

 

<<<<< Alisdair Stables / Neil Jones on last years Dukeries Rally.

Heart of England Championship frontrunners Paul Morgan/Sam Stafford are next up in their Honda Civic and could cause a stir in the Class runners too, while heading Class D Josh & Tamsyn Davey’s Darrian will be looking for a top 10 overall as well as class honours.  Chris White/Graham Capper’s Class D Escort follows Davey, before Ciro Carannante/Simon Coates’ Porsche Cayman, also in Class C. Carannante returned to rallying at Snetterton after lay-off.  At 16 is the Lotus Elise of Class E favourites Joseph & Daniel Duffy, but they are currently lying second in Class to Paul Sheard/Colin Stephens’ Mazda MX5, seeded eight places behind them.

The rest of the top 20 is made up of Escort’s, with Andrew Turner/Ross Green in Class D, Stephen Sawley/Rob Johnson in Class C, Chris Ruck/Steve Harris debuting their new car in Class D, followed by fellow class rivals and Dukeries Rally regulars Chris & Steve Grundy.

Other to look out for are Class B Championship leaders Sam Gendy/Samantha Bartlett’s Mitsubishi Evo 9 at 21, second in Class Michael Bowle/Izzie Lawrence’s Renault Clio at 23 and former European Formula Two racer Kim Mather with wife Yvonne on the notes in their ex works Class C Talbot Sunbeam at 34. Kim raced regularly at Donington in the 1970’s and early 80’s.

There are just under 100 cars due to start the opening stage at 9.15, with the sixth and final stage due to start at 16.10.
Advance tickets are available online until 5.30pm on Friday, saving £4.00 on adult tickets https://doningtonpark.msv.com/DP-24-RALLY/Admission-Tickets.

PETER SCHERER