MSA Asphalt Rally: James the Second!

Victory on the Patriot Stages alongside Damian Cole in his Ford Focus WRC earned James Morgan enough points to ensure that he retains THE REIS – Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Co-drivers’ Champion title that he won for the first time last year.

The pair set fastest time on the first of the seven stages at Caerwent to put them into a lead that they maintained through to the finish. James became the youngest-ever Asphalt Rally Champion Co-driver in 2011 and, still only 21 years old, AND continues to retain that record. The John Horton Motorsport Management ‘Star Performer’ award, with which he was presented at Prize-giving, seems particularly appropriate in this instance!

The only person who could prevent James from achieving his goal, Patrick Walsh, was sitting alongside Peter Lloyd in his Subaru Impreza WRC, but problems with the car on the first stage cost them over two minutes. Despite their best efforts, and setting FTDs on each of the remaining stages, they could only pull themselves back up to fourth by the end of the day. Such a position meant that, should Patrick take maximum points on the final round of the Championship on Otterburn, he could equal James’ score but would lose out on the number of wins.

Runners-up were Simon Mauger/Brian Cammack, making a rare appearance in their familiar Ford Escort MkII. Having retired from the event in 2011, they came back in fine style to claim a class win and maximum Millington Escort Challenge points.

Richard Merriman/Kath Curzon led a Darrian 1-2, finishing half-a-minute in front of Jeremy Straker and taking 5th & 6th places respectively, with the Millington Darrian Challenge points awarded in similar fashion. 8th were Chris Jones/Ashley Trimble (Ford Focus STI), while a top ten finish was enough to elevate Rob Tout (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) into third place overall in the Drivers’ table, joining co-driver Dan Holley who was already there.

Ian Kenvin/Ian Meakin’s MkI Escort finished inside the Top Twenty and 2nd in the Millington Escort Challenge, with the Group N Impreza of Wynne Watkins/Sherryn Roberts a mere three seconds behind it.

Tim Daltry/Emma Morrison took top spot in the AB Motorsport Peugeot 205 Challenge, ahead of Kev Harbour/Dave Tortoishell, but Craig Jose/Nigel Hewett’s journey up from the west country came to nought when they retired on the last stage.

Watch the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship on Motors TV


Andrew Haill