Mini Tempest Stages 2002 review. Story by Mark Welch, images by Mark Sims - RallyingOnline.com.
Organised by Sutton and Cheam Motor Club, the 2002 Mini Tempest boasted an excellent field that included 2 World Rally Cars and 2 "evolution" Metro 6R4s not to mention 3 Mitsubishis with Imprezas and Cosworths a plenty.
At number 1 was Chris Wood and Ken Bills shaking down their awesome Metro 6R4, rebuilt after the heavy crash on Epynt in 1999. Car 2 was Paul Shelmerdine/Steve Renham in their new Escort WRC and at 3, Mark Slater/Nick Slater in a new DAM 4100. Down at 28 was the almost un-noticed Paul Kirtley and David Jones in an ex-Richard Burns Subaru WRC.
The leaderboard after SS1 was full of surprises. Wood and Bills set fastest time with Slater and Slater 10 seconds adrift. However, Lee Williams and Steve Hall in their atmo Cosworth Mark 2 Escort had obviously overdosed on shredded wheat and were a magnificent 3rd. Only one second behind was the Jersey crew of Paul Le Marquand/Gaynor Jubb in another Mark 2, and just one second further back was Shelmerdine/Renham, still getting to grips with the new car.
Kirtley/Jones after a spin were down to 16th, but made amends by setting a 3rd fastest time behind the Metros on SS2 to move up to 5th. Slater retired after SS2 (engine) and Wood (differential problems) at the end of SS3. Now the leaderboard had a completely different look. Kirtley had taken the lead from that man Williams in the Mark 2. Shelmerdine held 3rd but only 3 seconds separated the top three.
By the halfway mark, things started to settle down. Kirtley from Shelmerdine, with Williams 3rd, very much in contention. Fourth place was occupied by Paul and Mark Brocklebank in their impressive Fiesta rear wheel drive and they led class D. One place further back were class E leaders, Dick Mauger and Andrew Street in an Escort Cosworth. Pauls King and Hollingham in their immaculate Vauxhall powered Mark 2 Escort topped class C at 8th overall. Class B leaders were car 46, Trevor Owen and Paul Diver in their Fiesta. At the head of class A sat car 36, Chris Powis and Paul Downes in a Nova.
During the afternoon, the battle at the front continued. After SS5, still only 6 seconds separated Kirtley/Jones, Shelmerdine/Renham and Williams/Hall with Brocklebanks a further 18 seconds behind. Class positions remained unchanged.
However, it WAS all change for SS6! A slow time from Kirtley saw him slip from 1st to 3rd. Shelmerdine now led by two seconds from a flying Williams. Kirtley was a further four seconds behind with Brocklebank making ground, reducing the gap from 4th to 3rd by two seconds. The lead of class B changed after the engine expired on Owen/Divers Fiesta. The new leaders now were car 50, the Nova of Brian Lee and Les Skeet. Dick Mauger and Andrew Street wrong slotted, handing the lead of class E over to Andy Vey and Jason Aplin in their Mitsubishi Evo 4.
The times see-sawed over the remaining 2 stages but at the finish the verdict went to Shelmerdine/Renham enjoying their first outing in a WRC Escort. By contrast, a magnificent 2nd for Lee Williams and Steve Hall in a 25 year old Mark 2 escort, a mere eight seconds behind the leaders. Lee put his fine drive down to the fact that after many years of rallying, this was the first time he had used brand new tyres!
Third was Kirtley, suffering from power steering woes in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Paul and Mark Brocklebank came in 4th overall and first in class D. Class C was won by 5th placed Paul King and Paul Hollingham. The class E award went to Andy Vey in his Evo 4, class B to Brian Lee in a Nova, and class A to Chris Powis, also in a Nova.
So, the 2002 Mini Tempest was again a great success and all credit must go to the organisers, Sutton and Cheam Motor Club. This event is always hotly contested, and this year's event was no exception.
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