Results and tables for 2007 - see below

Quinton Motor Club

Computer World Rally Championship 2007

QUINTON MOTOR CLUB COMPUTER WORLD RALLY

CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

SEE REPORTS BELOW THE TABLE

6 – RALLY CYPRUS

The final round of the 2007 Championship, with the top two positions already decided, could have been predicted as being something of a non-event.  But pride was at stake here in the Troudos mountains of Cyprus and, although arriving late in the service park, it was clear that the champion-to-be Adrian Hardy was determined to rack up a final 10-point victory over double world champion Peter Fieldhouse to show a clear tally of wins when the lowest-scoring round points are dropped, as the regulations state, Fieldhouse only having shown Hardy the way home once, back in the first round in Monte Carlo. 

The stages were dry, dusty and rough as one would expect at this time of the year on the Mediterranean island and it was Fieldhouse who charged out of the blocks to take the first stage – Kellaki – by nearly 3 seconds from Hardy, who had more than one unfortunate slip.  An ever-improving David Hackett, a late entry into the last two rounds of the Championship, was an impressive 3^rd, some 6 seconds further away.  Finally recovering from his long-term injury, media-type Stuart Woodier arrived at the finish an impressive 4^th, whilst newcomer David Benson was 5^th, albeit a full 15 seconds behind Woodier.  Steve ‘Sideways’ Bonham was all a bit too sideways through this stage, but headed home the ever-trying Pete Bowles by some 3 seconds to take 6^th place.

Stage 2 – Galatareia – saw Hardy up his game, taking the stage win by just 24/100ths of a second from Fieldhouse, with Hackett, Woodier and Benson in the same positions as on Stage 1.  Fieldhouse still led then, but by a margin of just over 2 seconds.  All to play for!

On Stage 3 -  Galatareia 2 – Hardy took another win, this time by over 2 seconds – and with it the lead of the event, albeit by under half a second.  Hackett re-inforced his challenge in 3^rd place, whilst Benson’s 4^th place on the stage still left Woodier in 4^th overall.  Bonham and Bowles held station in 6^th and 7^th positions respectively.

The final stage of this year’s championship – Foini – was not going to affect its final outcome, but a determined Adrian Hardy had to pull all the stops out to maintain his tiny lead over Fieldhouse if he were to step on to the top step of the podium for the 5^th successive time this season.  And so it was to be – with Hardy taking the stage by over 3 seconds from a tiring Fieldhouse to secure an overall winning margin of just under 4 seconds – and bragging rights for the winter season.  Woodier continued to improve, taking 3^rd on the final stage from Hackett, but their overall final positions were unchanged.  Benson came in a lonely 5^th, over half a minute behind Woodier with Bonham taking 6^th from Bowles, despite the latter taking some 20 seconds out of him on the last stage.

Ian Howard’s absence from the event did not affect the outcome, with the former champion firmly fixed in the final podium position.  Again, 4^th and 5^th places were not affected by the Cyprus result, these being taken by Jeff Reynolds and James Bowles.  Fourteen club members had taken part in the Championship this season – something of a record – and all had enjoyed their evenings of competitive rivalry behind the wheel of a top-flight rally car, with no danger of this sort of motor sport being dangerous to their wallets.

With thanks to organiser, Steve Bonham and, with Chief Timekeeper Mike Stratton, who, once again, had trekked from Devon to keep the scores on the doors (and do some other bits of Quinton business too).  Thanks to these and all who have taken part in what has proved to be great fun throughout the season.

PCF

ROUND 5 – RALLYE DE ESPANA

After the Championship’s long summer break, during which Adrian Hardy stood poised to win the 2007 Championship with just one more win, he and doubtless other competitors spent many unhealthy hours perched in front of the TV screen rather than basking in the UK’s non-existent summer sunshine. 

But, after the South American round in Argentina, it was back to Europe for the only tarmac round of this year’s championship on the smooth roads of Spain for the penultimate round, which was destined to be the deciding one, at least as far as the winner and runner-up were concerned.  With one score to be dropped at the end of the season, Hardy was neatly placed with three wins under his belt ahead of former double champion Peter Fieldhouse, who had only won the opening round this year and scored two second places and one third.  So, with a win in Spain, Hardy was guaranteed the Championship, the first of his career.

And he came out of the blocks looking like a champion, winning the first stage – La Roca – by some 5 seconds from Ian Howard who was holding 3^rd place in the championship before the event.  Former champion Fieldhouse was pushed down into 3^rd place after a dramatic barrel roll only 2 miles into the stage.  Fourth was ever-improving Jeff Reynolds, ahead of returnee Stuart Woodier who, despite a serious knee injury, impressed more on this stage than he has at any previous time this year.  However, his injuries were to weaken his attack as the evening wore on and fatigue started to water down the adrenaline.  Welcome newcomer, David Hackett, came home a respectable 6^th, ahead of organiser Steve Bonham and young guest competitor Joe White.

It was Hardy again on Stage 2 – Viladrau – this time leading a recovering Fieldhouse home by some 7 seconds with Howard only a further tenth of a second down and therefore retaining 2^nd place overall.  A fast-improving Hackett took 4^th, whilst a consistent Reynolds took 5^th to move up to 4^th place overall.

SS3 was virtually a reverse run of the previous stage and again it was Hardy who took the top spot, this time leading home an impressive Reynolds by 7 seconds, with Fieldhouse taking 3^rd, a further 4 seconds back.  Although Howard was pushed into a notional 5^th place by fast-improving guest driver White, he still held 2^nd place overall, just over one second ahead of Fieldhouse – with one stage remaining.

Hardy clinched the event – and with it the 2007 title – with another scintillating run on SS4 – La Pobla – with former champion Fieldhouse recovering some of last year’s form to finish just over a second behind him, thus moving him up to the 2^nd step on the podium for the event – and in the championship, with Howard pushed back into 3^rd place with a disappointing run some 9 seconds slower.  Another quick drive by Hackett saw him move up to 5^th place at the close, with Reynolds’ 5^th place on the stage assuring him of 4^th overall.  Young guest driver Joe White took a notional 6^th place overall ahead of Bonham and Woodier, the latter never recovering from a disastrous 2^nd stage.

With both generations of the Bowles family missing from the starting line up, Reynolds grasped the opportunity to move up into 4^th place in the championship and Steve Bonham’s consistent presence dragged him up into 6^th place ahead of