The MGJ Engineering Circuit Rally Championship roared back to life after the winter break, with round 4 taking place at the legendary Brands Hatch circuit on a frosty Saturday in January.
The sub-zero temperatures failed to deter the hardy fans, who arrived in droves to brave the bracing conditions. Wrapped up against the elements in winter coats, woolly hats, and gloves. Excited to witness the action-packed day of rallying unfold.
With an impressive 39.60 competitive miles spread across 8 stages, the drivers were also in for a challenging day ahead.
The rather unique experience of seeing rally cars running in the wrong direction on parts of the circuit, even tackling some off-road action, added an extra thrill for the fans. Reigning champions John Griffiths and Emma Morrison arrived at the event leading this year's championship in their Ford Fiesta R5.
They were facing strong competition in the form of pairing Patrick O'Donovan and Jack Morton in their Hyundai I20 R5, seeded 2nd for this round. The duo had missed the previous event at Donington Park but had already shown their prowess by winning round 2 at Cadwell Park earlier in the season.
Also in contention were Michael Igoe and Will Atkins in their Citroen C3 Rally2. Winners of the last round at Donington Park despite getting to grips with a brand new car and seeded third for this event.
Igoe and Atkins wasted no time in asserting their dominance, opening up a 17 second lead after two stages. They went on to win the first 4 in a row, showcasing their skill and speed. Furthering the days campaign, they finished 3rd in stage 5 and 2nd in stages 6, 7, and 8 securing the overall victory by a handsome margin.
O'Donovan and Morton put up a strong fight coming home 2nd in stage 1 and 4th in SS2. They went on to win the final 4 stages of the day, displaying their determination and speed. However, a costly 5 minute time penalty incurred in stage 5 for hitting a chicane dashed their hopes of victory. They ultimately finished 12th overall but would have claimed 2nd without the penalty.
Griffiths and Morrison had a tough start to the event, only finishing 6th on SS1. However, they displayed resilience by consistently placing well throughout the rest of the day. Finishing 2nd in SS2, and 3rd, 4th, and 2nd again in stages 3, 4, and 5 respectively. Continuing their strong performance by finishing 3rd in the final 3 stages of the day and securing 2nd place overall.
Ollie O'Donovan and Ashleigh Morris rounded out the podium in 3rd position with their Hyundai I20 R5. Having started slower than their rivals, they steadily climbed up the leaderboard with consistent top 5 finishes in stages 3, 4, and 5. Their determination and skill further paid off with 4th place finishes in stages 6, 7, and 8 to secure the final place on the podium.
With three different manufacturers - Citroen, Ford and Hyundai - represented on the podium, it is a testament to the competitiveness of the championship and the skill of all the crews. The spectators were treated to a thrilling day of rallying at Brands Hatch, with the cold temperatures doing little to dampen the excitement and adrenaline.
As the championship heads to Snetterton for round 5, the battle for the title promises to be fierce with the fight hotting up and each team eager to try and claim top spot on the podium.
