Drivers brave testing weather conditions in Wirral resort rally

A RAINSOAKED New Brighton, in Wirral, saw 90 cars racing in the Printmatters Promen- ade Stages rally on Saturday.

Like most of the UK, the unique Wirral-based venue was awash for the opening morning stages, and with standing water it proved to be a test of the drivers’ mettle.

Early predictions proved sound as John Stone emerged from an opening pair of rainsoaked stages with a 12-second lead.

And, even as conditions remained dry into the afternoon stages, Stone’s early morning lead looked to be unassailable until mechanical problems led to retirement on stage six.

This handed a scant four- second lead to Chris Wise’s Metro, but with dry conditions and a charging Chris Davis it was level playing by the end of stage seven and then, with only the final stage remaining, Davis held a three-second lead, just as the rain returned. In one of the most dramatic finishes for many years, Davis headed into a damp final stage without the advantage of four-wheel drive, knowing the slightest of errors would cost dearly. But transmission problems dropped Wise a further nine seconds behind, allowing Davis an impressive margin in his victory.

In other categories, Bill Bates was quickest 1600 and Steve Hopewell’s very impressive rotary engine- powered Mk2 Escort headed the 1400s home with a massive 2½-minute lead on the rest of the class.