The Team In Action At Smeatharpe www.grahamrobins.net

Mark II Motorsport headed west yet again last weekend to take part in the Smeatharpe Stages Rally organised by Exeter Motor Club. In fact, the event marked the anniversary of the team’s comeback. 12 months earlier, driver Mark Welch co driven by brother Paul, finished in a creditable 8th place after an eventful day. With some competitive miles under his belt and victory in the previous round of the ACSMC Tarmac Rally Championship, Welch was a little more optimistic about the team’s chances!

“I’ve got a new co-driver alongside me today” he explained, “but Hollie Roberton is professional, enthusiastic, weighs next to nothing and has co-driven for her father ex British Rally Champion Ian so I’m sure we’ll have a fun day and get a good result”. The field again had quality in depth with the South West husband and wife team of Steve and Yvonne Furzeland leading the crews away in their regular Impreza WRC. Car 2 was Steve Hollis in similar Escort Cosworth to that of Mark II Motorsports. Mark and Hollie lined up at 3 with the furiously fast Kev Carr in his hybrid Mark 2 Escort at 4.

Further down the field was Adrian Brown/Chris Jarman in their recently acquired Tour of Cornwall winning Metro 6R4, Dave Jones/Jamie Pemberton in a Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, late entry Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson in another Impreza WRC and another 6R4 driven by Steve Cozens and Phil Wood. Welch declared that a podium finish would be “good going”.

With 10 stages on offer, the event concentrated on the ex WW2 D-day air base of Smeatharpe and SS1 proved to be a bit of a learning curve for the new Mark II combination. “The stage layout was interesting but difficult to follow,” said Hollie after her first taste of 4wd turbo power. Cookson and Wilkinson took fastest time with Welch 10 seconds adrift but still in the hunt in 5th place.

SS2 saw a 17 second improvement from Welch and Roberton. The problem was everyone else went quicker too so they stayed in 5th but closed the gap slightly on Jones and the Furzelands. SS3 was not good for Mark II. For inexplicable reasons, they dropped nearly 20 seconds on their rivals and slipped down to 7th in the process.

“I’m struggling to understand that,” said Welch.” We all but caught Hollis who started 30 seconds ahead of us, but to lose so much time is weird”. They did however; make amends on SS4 going 22 seconds faster and were back on the pace of the leaders. They also moved up to 4th place in the process!

SS5 witnessed the demise of championship rivals the Furzelands with diff problems. Cookson in the similar Impreza was well in the lead with Jones’ Evo 8 in 2nd 35 seconds up on Mark II who were now up to 3rd. However, in another twist, Jones had lost 3rd gear and was starting to drop back into the clutches of Welch and Roberton.

Over the next 3 stages, Mark II took 8 seconds back from Jones but it was not enough. The team decided to consolidate 3rd and had a steady run through the final 2 stages to take a well deserved podium place. As it happened, they were almost too casual as the 6R4 of Brown and Jarman finished just 3 seconds behind in 4th!

So the event was won by Cookson in his Impreza WRC, Jones in the Evo 2nd with Welch 3rd. More maximum Championship points with just 1 round to go. However, mathematically, Mark II can only get 2nd place and 1st in class so that’s it for the 2007 season. Not bad but can they go one better in 2008??

Mark II Motorsport Would Like To Thank Their Sponsors :-

Posted 30th October 2007