Jack Frost Rally Review

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Bird romps to record at Croft

Sunday 22 JanuaryJack Frost Review


Cumbria’s Paul Bird made it a record fourth straight win in Sunday’s (22 January) Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages Rally at Croft Circuit contested by more than 70 crews.

Bird (pictured) dominated proceedings as he won all eight stages that made up the popular annual event, organised by the Darlington & District Motor Club, in his Ford Focus WRC 07. He was more than two minutes clear of the rest by the end as Thirsk’s Chris Wise finished second in his Metro 6R4.

Bird commented: "It's great to win this event for a record-breaking fourth time, especially as I've not driven the car on asphalt for seven months. It took me a while to get going and the opening couple of stages were not perfect by any means. But once I got into my stride, everything started flowing and we got the vital testing time with the car we needed. I'm going to give the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship a good go this year as I've never done an asphalt series but I'll still do the odd gravel event when it suits me."

Wise’s path to second only became clear on the sixth of eight stages, however. Up until then he’d been in third behind the Lotus Exige of Martin Tinker before it retired with a broken clutch.

Darlington’s Paul Swift finished third in his giant-killing Ford Escort Mk2, just eight seconds ahead of Whickham’s Pete Gibson. Swift’s third place means he leads the North of England Tarmacadam Championship.

He said: “That's three in a row at Croft so I'm happy to be on the tip of the podium again! It was always going to be difficult considering the strength of the opposition so I'm even more pleased with the result which has to rank as one of my best to date. I drove like an old woman on the last stage as I wanted to bring the car home safely but I've raised the bar now so we need to continue to improve. Thanks to the organisers and marshals for putting on a great event, I really enjoyed it and the car was fantastic.”

 

For full results click on this link http://results.rallyticketing.co.uk/results/index.php?e=131

 

Photo: copyright Tony Todd / www.tonytodd.co.uk

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Jack Frost Rally Preview

CROFT’S NEW MOTOR SPORT SEASON STARTS WITH JACK FROST RALLY

Sunday 22 January


Croft Circuit’s mega year of motor sport begins in spectacular sideways style this Sunday (22 January) with the Jack Frost Stages Rally, organised by the Darlington & District Motor Club.

The DDMC anticipates a high calibre entry of in excess of 70 cars for its annual rally. In all competitors face eight competitive timed special stages held on a variety of configurations within the Croft Circuit boundaries. The action is scheduled to start at just after 9.00am.

Tickets for Sunday’s Jack Frost Stages Rally at Croft cost just £10 per adult (payable on the gate) with admission for children aged 15 and under FREE all day. Public will also have access to the main service area where they can catch up with drivers and watch crews working on cars in between stages.

Aiming for a record-breaking fourth consecutive victory on the event will be Penrith’s Paul Bird in his sensational Ford Focus WRC 07, but he faces some mighty opposition. Indeed, two other previous winners are entered, namely Thirsk’s Chris Wise (2007 & 2008) in his mighty Metro 6R4 and Leek’s Dave Holland (2001) in his Ford Escort Mk2.

Bird commented: “Although I’ve won the last three Jack Frost rallies none of them have been easy and this year’s event will also be very tough as there are a number of drivers capable of winning. Croft is my local circuit and Darlington & District Motor Club runs a great rally so this is one event I always look forward to.”

Wise added: “It’s a friendly rivalry between Paul and I out of the cars, but when the event starts there’s definitely some needle. I normally get ahead of him in the early stages but then he seems to warm up and get into his stride – maybe that’s when he has his bacon sarnie! I’ve had extensive work done to the Metro and a fresh engine fitted. I won’t be hanging about.” Notably Wise is the owner of AUTOGAS 2000, the expert fuel conversion company sponsoring the event which is also supported by Cartersport.

Elsewhere rising star Chris Anderson (Ford Fiesta) of Bishop Auckland and stunt driver Paul Swift (Escort Mk2) from Darlington are both fresh from stellar performances in the recent Christmas Stages Rally at Croft (Mon 2 Jan) and also in with very real shouts of victory. Another ‘one to watch’ will be Morpeth’s Tony Thompson in his evocative Vauxhall Chevette HSR.

Darlington & District Motor Club Chairman Terry Wright said: “The Jack Frost often lives up to its name, making the initial stages very tricky as competitors try to hold onto cars on sheet ice. Cars start at 30-second intervals making this a fast and furious event.”

Meanwhile the ‘Jack Frost’ marks the start of a busy year for the DDMC at Croft with the club’s ultra-successful motor racing championship, the Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship (NSSCC), scheduled for a number of appearances on track later in the season (see croftcircuit.co.uk for full 2012 motor sport fixture list).

 


 

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