The event marks the halfway point in this year’s Protyre BTRDA Rally Series. This early summer event, held in the picturesque Kielder Forest area, is always a welcome addition to the rally calendar. With it’s scenic backdrops and challenging stages it proves popular with competitors and spectators alike
Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear clinched first place overall in their Ford Fiesta R5. Matthew expressed his excitement, saying, "It’s absolutely fantastic to score maximum points for the BTRDA Rally, especially with a significant swing in the championship standings due to the unfortunate issues faced by both Elliot and Russ."
Elliot Payne, another strong contender for the win, encountered problems on the first stage, which initially dropped him down the leaderboard before he managed to recover later in the day.
Russ Thompson also faced challenges throughout the day, stopping and having to retire on SS5 in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Finishing second, just 12 seconds behind Hirst, were Jonny Greer and Niall Burns in a Citroën C3 Rally2.
The final podium spot was secured by Patrick O’Donovan and Jack Morton in a Hyundai i20 R5.
Another stand out paring were Matthew Robinson and Kim Grey. Finishing 11th overall in their newly prepared Ford Escort Mk2
It was great to see a variety of manufacturers represented at the top of the standings, with Ford, Citroën, and Hyundai each making it to the podium. The next round of the BTRDA Rally Series will be the Nicky Grist Stages in Wales on July 13th.
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