Network Q Rally of Great Britain Reports Service

After Special Stage 28...

Burns, however, was the man of the event for despite the spectacular form of his rivals - and having to take on the mantle of leader of the Mitsubishi team once Tommi Makkinen was forced to retire on the first day - the boyish faced 27year old showed maturity and confidence through the two days of relentless pressure in the Welsh hills. He thoroughly deserved to become the first Englishman to win the event since the late Roger Clark took an Escort to victory in 1976.

"I wanted to be neat but quick on the final day" commented Burns at dawn on the final day and he worked exactly to schedule as he set the best time from the front on all seven stages in the final leg to eventually beat the rest by three and a half minutes and clinch his second international victory this year. It was ample reward for his best ever performance and put behind him the heartbreak of losing a year ago when a puncture slowed him when in sight of victory.

"This has given me even greater pleasure than winning the Safari Rally in Africa" said a delighted Burns as his Mitsubishi mechanics polished his car ready for a triumphal return to Cheltenham.

For Carlos Sainz there was considerable sympathy but "El Matador" was among the first to congratulate Burns. "He has driven very well and he deserved to win his home event - I know the feeling very well"

The Ford team, run by Malcolm Wilson, take a great deal of credit for their performance in getting both their star drivers onto the podium in second and third places, thus ensuring the Ford Escort went out in a blaze of glory at the end of 30years in competition. In particular the Ford bosses were delighted with four Escorts in the top 10 overall and the international flavour was truly represented with three Finns, two Belgians, a Pole, a German, an Estonian and an Austrian crew in the top ten.

The exciting battle for honours in the extremely closely fought Formula II battle, involving three of Finland's finest prospects ,finally went to Tapio Laukkanen in his Renault Megane who turned up the heat in the last few stages to win by over a minute from Jarno Kytolehto's Vauxhall Astra kit car with Toni Gardemeister a further one and a half minutes back in third in his SEAT.

The Group N battle was handsomely won by the Austrian Manfred Stohl who led throughout and finished an incredible 10th overall. British driver David Higgins in his Subaru Legacy was runner-up and highest placed Amateur while the Middle East entry from Hamad-al-Wahaibi was a steady third.

However the rally, formerly known as The RAC, a title lost when the RAC sold off its roadside services division leaving the event to be run by the Motor Sport Association, has not endeared itself to officials of the FIA on two counts;
 
 

1. The error in not making all the crews aware at the start of oil on the Millbrook stage on the opening day - which caused Makinen to lose a wheel and threatened to cost him his third driver's championship title;
2. the lack of crowd control on the second day when the event was halted for 27 minutes due to spectators causing a safety hazard.

Coverage of this year's Network Q Rally has been provided by Dr John Upham, Derek Hill and Philip Wood. We extend special thanks to our roving reporters John Horton, manager of the Mobil 1 British Rally Championship, and Steve Gregg, co-ordinator of the Welsh National Rally Championship.