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2013/05 - Jim Clark Rally (0 images) - created by Adge on 05/06/2013 at 13:03:21
Last weekend and Team Adgespeed returned to the Jim Clark Rally for the 3rd round of the REIS Get Connected Asphalt Rally Championship 2013. Having elected not to enter the 2nd round the Manx National due to budgetary issues, the team were looking for a good run after last years event when they were forced to retire after the 3rd stage with engine problems.

The rally had a slightly different route this year, starting with the usual blast round Duns town centre and then out into the countryside for two more stages to complete the run of 3 stages on the friday night.

A steady run through the town centre getting used to the car again after not having driven it in anger since the Tour of Epynt in March Adrian and Mark set the 29th quickest time to move up from their 141 start position. The daunting Abbey St. Bathans stage followed next and with last years event in mind Adrian set off and after setting a good time the crew had moved up to 22 O/A. A new stage Tweedside followed before the crews headed back to service. The stage went well except for a moment over a big jump which had the crew on the grass, but they survived to get to service in one piece.

Once in service some problems were noticed with the front nearside hub, so this was changed, the car checked over and then off to bed to get ready for an early start in the morning.

The saturday morning started with rain which meant getting the tyres right for the 1st loop of 2 stages would be crucial. The 1st stage of the morning Eccles 1 was cancelled allegedly due to a lack of marshals. The stage was mainly dry so Adrian and Mark were concerned that the tyre choice of wets might be a problem, however the 2nd stage Swinton 1 was wet so that had gone in their favour, a good run was stopped when 1/2 way through the stage they had to stop whilst the marshals moved an escort of to the side of the road after suffering a big accident and blocking the stage, fortunately the crew were OK and Adrian and Mark carried on. A nominal time was given due to this problem and they were now up to 18th and 2nd in class in the championship.

Back to service to get ready for the next loop which had 3 stages and with the weather improving a change of tyres to intermediates was made and the crew set off for the the 1st run over Edrom1. With the tyres working well Adrian and Mark set off to try and keep up with the class leader, but half way through the stage disaster struck, as all of a sudden the car started to weave all over the road, thinking that they may have had at least a puncture or something more, the crew pulled over to check and a quick look revealed that a bolt had broken in a rear suspension link causing the car to steer all over the road. So it was Jim Clark Rally 3 Team Adgespeed 1 as by the time repairs were made the crew had gone OTL.

A disappointing end to what was a promising run as the class leader also retired so a possible 1st in class was lost.

The team have now returned to base to recover and get ready for their next event.