Got back and sat with the girls with a few bottles of fizz, we had tea then spent the evening in the Birds motorhome with the Deguilios and Mitchells, went to bed around 10, it was raining and very windy.  Woke up every few hours to the sound of rain – eventually it was morning and still raining – drivers briefing was called and we were told the first half of the course had been changed due to the weather.  We eventually got off around 10.30 we went off 5th or 6th of the line after Dan Lofthouse before Dan Evans – had a great clear run, it was incredably wet and very muddy but we put in the fastest time.  We went off 1st for the second and following runsthe course getting rougher and muddier.  We had a great day 4 out of 5 fastest lap time, fastest run of the day.  On our final lap (five)  Rick said the engine wasn’t running right and about 3 quarters of the way in the power steering went, he was having problems turning the steering wheel, but aimed the car in the rutts and hoped it would pull itself round.  We completed the run in good time, winning the event by 1 minute and 40 seconds, 2nd place went to Tim Dilworth and 3rd Keith Lewis.

Had a great days racing the only things we had to do was fill up with Water and Fuel, and clean the windows after each run.

We are now officially the Champion of Champions and have a great crystal decanter and glasses saying this.

Sunday morning we went off the start line in 5th position after Andy, dust was a bit of problem, but we were flying – so much so we both missed a hazard board and bang next minute we were landing hard in a large hole, after a bit of a do we ended up in the rough, it came a bit keen but Rick asked if I was OK, said yes and we were reversing out and back on track, the dust was still bad and caused a bit of slowing down but managed to get back to the finish, although the car didn’t feel quite right.  We came back in 4th, but decided not to risk going out again.  Not the best start to the season.

Roll on Waterbeach.

- Gatton Manor Trophy – 1st overall AWDC Safari Championship

2008

- Gatton Manor Trophy – 1st overall AWDC Safari Championship

- David Simmonite Memorial Trophy – 1st overall - NORC/AWDC Safari event

  2009

- Mike Wolfe Trophy – 1st overall, 1st Safari of the year

- Trophee David Simmonite – Fastest Brit at Dunes et Marais

2010

- Safari Official of the year – my very own award – for the exceptional results service I presume !  (Unfortunately the cup went missing before I could have it)

2011

- David Simmonite Memorial Trophy – 1st overall – AWDC/NORC Safari event

- Technospeed Trophy – 1st car to finish, running Technospeed tyres at Dunes et Marais

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

On Saturday morning all the cars were displayed along with the AWDC show unit, we were told that we would have 2 slots on the main arena one mid morning and one mid afternoon where we could ‘show off’ we weren’t allow on the track but a circuit had been made in the in-field for us.  Which we would have to share with the Wildcats and Race2Recovery boys.

Not sure what happened in the morning session – I think Ben Collins (ex-stig) had an off in one of the wildcats – so the morning session was cut short.

The afternoon session was a lot better, although it had been raining quite a bit before we went out, so there was a lot of mud flying!  So much so Mark & Sue Potts had to abandon - as their wipers packed up and they couldn’t see a thing.

We had a great time, and obviously the fastest on the circuit – we had 4 wildcats on one straight and one more on the inside of a corner.  Catching Andy West in his wildcat at the marshalls hut.  I jokingly asked if he slowed to let us past – he said he couldn’t get any where near us.

Some friends were at the circuit watching, they said when we came out people started to move away as they thought we would be slow – then came back when they actually realised how fast we were actually going.  At one stage we were faster than a subaru rally car on the track.

Great weekend pity about the weather.

Best of Dunes et Marais by Quader64 – see us on the podium and nearly crashing at 3.09mins.  -  the near crash was on the last stage which we scratched!

Thursday we were out again leaving the chalet around 9, last 3 stages to recce, but 4 sets of notes to do as ES7 & ES12 (Jaffe) were the same stage but run one way in the morning and reversed in the afternoon.  Half way thru the heavens opened, so we abandoned ‘Fred’ and dived for cover in the shrubbery.  Back on to the notes again.  Then disaster!  Fred became a bit wobbly, on stopping we noticed – his rear wheel about to fall off.  So, after a quick ’repair’ (a kick) we ambled back to the arrivee board and drove slowly back to the trailer – we got him back safely but that was the end of the recceing – fortunately all the notes were done and we had been thru all stages twice.  We still had the afternoon so decided to check the road liasons, we could do this in the shogun – so not a problem.

Friday – a fairly lazy day, writing notes up, sorting the trailer and generally getting ready for  the afternoons activities – we headed down to Palais around 4, although we were not due into admin till about 5.30 – watched a few of the cars stickering before going off to technical – this was at Leclerc in Royan – can you imagine going into Tesco car park on a Friday afternoon for scrutineering – this year it was very quick, possibly as we had scrutineered for the year last time we were in France.  A slow drive back to Royan port where the cars were put into parc fermee for the night.  A bit of a wait for Drivers Briefing, then off for tea!

Saturday up early – 1st car out at 8am, I think we were off around 8.50 – 10 min drive then a small service and out to first stage, we were car no 23, behind Steph.

ES 1 - we were 9th – 8 seconds behind scratch, Omnes,

ES2 – we put in 6th fastest time – 5.9 seconds behind scratch, Favy

ES3 - joint 2nd 3.9 seconds behind scratch, Caze

ES4 – 3rd, 3.8 seconds behind scratch, Monchaux

ES5 – 7th, 4.7 seconds behind scratch, Favy

ES6 – 7th, 10.7 second behind scratch, again Favy.

By the end of the day we were 3rd, 19.9 seconds behind Favy who was 3.9 seconds behind Caze.

So Sunday - 3rd on the road, Caze crashed out on ES7, so that put us 2nd!

ES7 - 5th fastest – Omnes scratched    

ES8 – 15th fastest – not a good stage – to much soft stuff in the fields – Favy

ES9 – 11th fastest to Favy

ES10 – 6th fastest to Pierrine

ES11 – 9th fastest – Poincelet V

ES12 – scratch Mann!!!!  1.8 seconds in front of the next car

Going into the last stage there was 1.2 seconds between us and 4th (who just happened to be Steph & Rachel)  So we gave it our all and scratched the stage.

Overall results:  Favy 1st, V Poincelet 2nd (5.6 seconds in front of us) and Rick & Sandra 3rd, 5.3 seconds in front of Steph & Rachel who were 4th.

Only 6 brit teams entered this year and only 4 finished, Well done to finishing Teams - Burley (27th) and Lund (49th) and bad luck to Teams - Bonsey and Bullen.  116 entries with only 62 finishers.

Two podiums in France this year – just need to get on that top step!

Pictures taken by Mark Williams at Castle combe rally day.

Muck spreading at Castlecombe

 

Playtime finished

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Watch for the hump at 1.44

Leap in Field at Sevenoaks