Presto Print Stages 2003 review. Story and images provided by RallyingOnline.com. 16 March 2003
Despite a minor off on the sixth stage, Steve and Yvonne Furzeland brought their 6R4 home to a well-deserved victory on the BDCC Presto Print Stages. The traditional opening round of the ACSMC/ASEMC Rally 2003 Championship event was held over two days at the Avon Park test track near Christchurch, Dorset in near perfect sunny conditions.
Although the results showed 11 out of 12 stage wins for the Furzelands, Andrew Orchard/Carl Sorenson put them under almost constant pressure, especially as they demolished the first chicane on the first stage! A split turbo pipe on stage nine on their newly rebuilt Escort Cosworth being the cause of most of the difference in the final times, and a six month layoff by Orchard not helping his cause.
However Furzeland and Orchard were both surprised to find themselves behind the Mk 2 Escort of Kevin and Sue Fossey after the opening pair of stages, but unfortunately the latter were forced into retirement on stage three.
Behind the leaders an interesting three-way contest was unfolding between Andy Vey/Jason Aplin, Neville Sutton/Kevin Ward and Geoff Bennett/Graham Dance - all three crews driving Mitsubishi Lancers and all three reporting tyre problems.
A change by Vey to Pirelli tyres improved his times by some 10 seconds per stage, whilst a puncture on stage five dropped Sutton from 4th to 9th place, however he recovered enough to finish 6th overall. Bennett meanwhile was one to benefit from Sutton's misfortune and by solving his own understeering problems with a tyre change he was able to improve his placing from 10th to 4th overall by the end of the event.
Russell and Andrew Griffin were yet another crew to occupy 4th place at some point during the event, but an off in their Sierra Cosworth on stage 11 resulted in their retirement and the cancellation of the stage.
Whilst other crews were engrossed in their own battles, the drive of the day was going almost unnoticed as Julian and Tina Wilkes brought home their 1.4-litre 16v Vauxhall Nova in 5th place overall and won Class A by over seven minutes.
Class B was won by Kevin Tappin/Peter Prouse in 9th spot overall with class C going to Simon May/Neil Harrison in 7th place, this despite brake problems on the last five stages. A class D victory was just reward for the efforts of Jersey crew Graham Morly/Matt Bougourd, all three class winners being Escort Mk 2 mounted.
Bournemouth & District Car Club - the rally organisers
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