Post by chrisfinch on Dec 12, 2005 12:19:20 GMT
2005 was the end of an era for the British Rally Championship, being the last year that WRC cars are allowed entry.
Mark Higgins returned to the championship, and brother David, 2004 champion would move to Group N to drive a works Mitusbishi Lancer, where he would be partnered by Evo Challenge winner Rory Galligan. Veteran Austin McHale would be driving an '03 spec Focus WRC.
The season started with BRC Live! at Bramcote Barrazks, Nuneaton, with Austin McHale coming out fastest. Stars of the Future driver James Wozencroft shocked everybody in his 1400cc Ignis, beating many Group N and world rally cars.
The first proper round was in Wales, which will be remembered for Matthew Wilson's terrible crash, destroying his car and putting him out of action for a few months. Team mate Mark Higgins also retired, paving the way for Austin McHale to take the opening round. Sebastian Ling took second, and Jon Ingram rounded off the podium. Rory Galligan took Group N honours.
Round 2 took the teams to the north of England for the Pirelli International Rally. Mark Higgins took his first win of the season, while Paul Bird, replacing the injured Wilson ended second. Austin McHale finished third, keeping him top of the championship. Tapio Laukkanen won group N, with David Higgins second.
The Scottish International Rally followed, and Mark Higgins took his second win in a row, finishing over 2 minutes ahead of Austin McHale. Sebastian Ling got his second podium of the year, and Rory Galligan increased his Group N lead with victory.
The drivers stayed in Scotland for Round 4, the Jim Clark Rally. Once again Higgins took victory, with Tim McNulty and Eugene Donnelly rounding out the podium, but not eligible for championship points. The next best placed driver was Rory Galligan, with another Production Cup victory.
The longest and most popular event of the season, the Manx International took place at the end of July. Mark Higgins took his fourth successive victory, and after a trio of Irish Tarmac Championship drivers, Paul Bird took second place in the BRC and Austin McHale ended third. Rory Galligan once again took Group N, with Barry Clark second.
The championship moved across the pond to Northern Ireland for Round 6, with the Ulster Rally. Eugene Donnelly won, but as he was driving in the Irish Tarmac Championship, did not score BRC points. Neither did Tim McNulty or Derek McGarrity who also finished on the podium. Austin McHale took maximum points with his Fifth place finish! The returning Matthew Wilson finished second and Mark Higgins took third (8th overall) after a crash with a telegraph pole. David Higgins won Group N, followed by Barry Clark. Rory Galligan did not finish.
The penultimate round of the championship was the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, where Matthew Wilson took his first ever BRC win, beating Stobart team mate Mark Higgins by 41 seconds, meaning Higgins took his second BRC title. Steve Perez rounded out the points. Returning 2002 and 2003 champion Jonny Milner returned, winning Production, but not entering the championship, so Barry Clark took maximum points, and Lorna Smith finished second.
The final round of the season, the Tempest Rally meant nothing to the BRC title, so champion Mark Higgins opted out, meaning Will Nicholls, in his only BRC rally of the season took victory. The important battle was for the Production title, Rory Galligan's retirement meant it was between Stobart drivers Barry Clark and Lorna Smith. Despite Galligan winning Group N, Clark took the title, followed by Galligan and Smith. Smith took consolation however, by winning the Ladies title.
A fantastic year for Eddie Stobart Motorsport, Mark Higgins winning the BRC, Barry Clark winning Production, and Lorna Smith taking the Ladies championship. To cap it all off, Paul Bird won the National Gravel Rally Championship.
It was, without a doubt, Stobart's Year.
Mark Higgins returned to the championship, and brother David, 2004 champion would move to Group N to drive a works Mitusbishi Lancer, where he would be partnered by Evo Challenge winner Rory Galligan. Veteran Austin McHale would be driving an '03 spec Focus WRC.
The season started with BRC Live! at Bramcote Barrazks, Nuneaton, with Austin McHale coming out fastest. Stars of the Future driver James Wozencroft shocked everybody in his 1400cc Ignis, beating many Group N and world rally cars.
The first proper round was in Wales, which will be remembered for Matthew Wilson's terrible crash, destroying his car and putting him out of action for a few months. Team mate Mark Higgins also retired, paving the way for Austin McHale to take the opening round. Sebastian Ling took second, and Jon Ingram rounded off the podium. Rory Galligan took Group N honours.
Round 2 took the teams to the north of England for the Pirelli International Rally. Mark Higgins took his first win of the season, while Paul Bird, replacing the injured Wilson ended second. Austin McHale finished third, keeping him top of the championship. Tapio Laukkanen won group N, with David Higgins second.
The Scottish International Rally followed, and Mark Higgins took his second win in a row, finishing over 2 minutes ahead of Austin McHale. Sebastian Ling got his second podium of the year, and Rory Galligan increased his Group N lead with victory.
The drivers stayed in Scotland for Round 4, the Jim Clark Rally. Once again Higgins took victory, with Tim McNulty and Eugene Donnelly rounding out the podium, but not eligible for championship points. The next best placed driver was Rory Galligan, with another Production Cup victory.
The longest and most popular event of the season, the Manx International took place at the end of July. Mark Higgins took his fourth successive victory, and after a trio of Irish Tarmac Championship drivers, Paul Bird took second place in the BRC and Austin McHale ended third. Rory Galligan once again took Group N, with Barry Clark second.
The championship moved across the pond to Northern Ireland for Round 6, with the Ulster Rally. Eugene Donnelly won, but as he was driving in the Irish Tarmac Championship, did not score BRC points. Neither did Tim McNulty or Derek McGarrity who also finished on the podium. Austin McHale took maximum points with his Fifth place finish! The returning Matthew Wilson finished second and Mark Higgins took third (8th overall) after a crash with a telegraph pole. David Higgins won Group N, followed by Barry Clark. Rory Galligan did not finish.
The penultimate round of the championship was the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, where Matthew Wilson took his first ever BRC win, beating Stobart team mate Mark Higgins by 41 seconds, meaning Higgins took his second BRC title. Steve Perez rounded out the points. Returning 2002 and 2003 champion Jonny Milner returned, winning Production, but not entering the championship, so Barry Clark took maximum points, and Lorna Smith finished second.
The final round of the season, the Tempest Rally meant nothing to the BRC title, so champion Mark Higgins opted out, meaning Will Nicholls, in his only BRC rally of the season took victory. The important battle was for the Production title, Rory Galligan's retirement meant it was between Stobart drivers Barry Clark and Lorna Smith. Despite Galligan winning Group N, Clark took the title, followed by Galligan and Smith. Smith took consolation however, by winning the Ladies title.
A fantastic year for Eddie Stobart Motorsport, Mark Higgins winning the BRC, Barry Clark winning Production, and Lorna Smith taking the Ladies championship. To cap it all off, Paul Bird won the National Gravel Rally Championship.
It was, without a doubt, Stobart's Year.