22 Motorsport in demand:
22 Motorsport team members are assisting a Spanish privateer Subaru team with technical support throughout 2005. Our highly experienced staff were recommended to the spanish outfit, which is contesting Spain's National Gravel Championship, after our string top of results in 2004's BRC.
Mike Oates:
22 Motorsport is pleased to announce that we will be preparing and running Mike Oates in his latest customer specification S10 WRC Impreza in 2005. Oates will be contesting selected European tarmac events through the season, alongside a program of UK stage rallies. 22motorsport.com will keep you posted!
Somerset Stages:
The Somerset Stages Rally took place on Saturday 23rd of April, based in Minehead, Somerset. 22 Motorsport were running young up and coming driver Shaun Bolt, partnered by his dad Andy, and also Steve Winter, of WRC Sales, the main sponsor of the event. Both local to Somerset, Shaun was running in his usual N8 Subaru and Steve in a 2002 WRC car.
Dawn in South West saw atrocious weather conditions. Heavy rain and fog were sure to make the driving very tricky, but as usual did not dampen the spirits of the 22 Motorsport team! With 4 gravel stages before first service in the morning, 2 tarmac stages before lunchtime halt and 5 gravel stages during the afternoon, it was to be a stern challenge for all the crews.
Dramas unfolded on the first stage for Steve Winter and co-driver Neil Dashfield, when their wipers broke! At the end of the stage, the 22 Motorsport mechanics acted with their usual professionalism and lightning fast responses to sort the problem. Shaun had no such problems and got off to a solid start.
At first service, with Steve losing time in the morning, the team decided to make maximum changes and fitted full tarmac kit to the car. This immediately saw Steve rise up the leader board by obliterating the competition on the tarmac stages and promoting him to 2nd overall.
Meanwhile, Shaun's trouble-free period came to an end on the first of the two tarmac stages, when he clouted a bank with the right hand front corner, and knocked the front wheel off. Yet again, 22MS boys, at the end of the stage, rebuilt the car with impressive agility, before the next run up Porlock Hill, where Shaun went on to claim a 5th fastest overall on the stage. Not bad considering 10 minutes earlier he looked as if he was out of the rally!!
With weather conditions slightly improving, and the fog lifting, Shaun was pushing hard to make up for his accident, and finished an impressive 10th overall, 4th in class, yet again showing his increasing talent.
Steve and Neil battled all afternoon on drying stages and with improving weather conditions, with Andy Burton (rally winner). Despite all endeavours, with Steve trying a bit too hard on several occasions causing a couple of spins, he and Neil came in 3rd overall with only 17 seconds separating them. A successful and enjoyable event for all!
For full event reports and stage times, please visit: www.somersetstagesrally.com
All the latest team news for 2005 will be at 22motorsport.com first: click again soon! |