2002 Toshiba Irish Tarmac Championship: Andrew Nesbitt Wins
If ever there was to be a test of our ability to prepare a car, we knew this would be it. Andrew Nesbitt's reputation as one of the quickest tarmac drivers around precedes him. When we agreed to run him for his assault on the 2002 Irish Tarmac Championship, we knew he would not be too amused if his car let him down! The Irish Tarmac Championship is one of the most competitive in the world, with an abundance of up to date WRC machinery. A win requires massive speed from the crew, and a car that can take the pace on the sometimes bumpy Irish tar. We provided the latter, and Andrew Nesbitt well and truly lived up to his reputation on the former!
Taking the lead on the second of 27 stages on the Buy & Sell Circuit of Ireland, Andrew and James never lost their grip on the event in our S6 WRC Impreza. Even a last stage spin and stall only reduced the winning margin to two minutes! A great start to 2002.
The Killarney Rally of the Lakes looked promising for the other crews, but only for the first day! The event was initially led by Derek McGarrity, being chased by Boland, Hurson and our man Nesbitt, who was suffering from a minor clutch problem. With the Impreza back to 100% the following morning, car number 1 began relentlessly reeling in the minute plus gap. McGarrity had to push on, and in doing so broke a wheel. Just as the fight looked interesting, the pressure told and Nesbitt went on to win from Boland and Liam O'Callaghan. Across the pond to Britain next, for the Jim Clark Memorial Rally and an encounter with the crews of the British Rally Championship. Irish driver McGarrity led until SS9, when a broken propshaft sidelined his efforts and left British front runner Jonny Milner to battle it out with the 22 Motorsport Crew of Nesbitt and O'brien. No mistakes from Andrew meant that Milner was the first to crack, leaving our crew to cruise to their third successive victory. On then to the middle of the Irish Sea, and the Manx International. With the championship looking good, and local expert Mark Higgins taking part but not registered for the Irish Championship, Nesbitt only needed a measured drive to second for maximum points. This is exactly what followed, with the Cuisine de France Impreza coming home first Irish crew, second overall, followed by Eamonn Boland second Irish crew and fifth overall. The Ulster International saw the third encounter with the British crews, one which they will want to forget! Aside from one, Nesbitt and O'Brien were fastest on every stage, a fact which led Jonny Milner to question whether or not Andrew was from this planet! Despite his best efforts, Jonny estimated a second a mile plus was being lost to the 22 Motorsport Cuisine de France Impreza. Win number four put the Irish title just a point away. So to the final round, the Cork 20. Just one point was required, but what followed was pure brilliance. Our car never missed a beat, and Andrew Nesbitt won every single stage! Austin McHale pushed Nesbitt and O'Brien at first, but retired on stage 5 leaving our crew to run at a 'sensible pace' to the victory. Through the course of the season, Andrew and our Impreza clocked up 79 stage wins, including 73 at the front of the field and had a winning margin over the season of 10 minutes 35 seconds, or 1.5 per mile!
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