Crossen is latest first-time BHRC winner with Carlisle Stages triumph

David Crossen underlined his status as a major contender for the season with a resounding victory in round two of the British Historic Rally Championship on the Carlisle Stages.

On a day of warm sunshine, fast and very dusty stages, the Northern Irish driver and co-driver Ben Teggart stretched clear of the pack with an impressive performance in their Ford Escort Mk2 to win by 50 seconds from round one winners Dan Mennell and John Roberts. This was therefore the second event running with a new name at the top of the historic pack, which featured an all-Escort overall podium.

Though he had completed a couple of Kielder rallies before, Crossen had not previously seen the stages used on the Carlisle event. But that didn’t stop him setting a strong pace from the off and he was quickest on four of the five stages. However, a puncture for David Henderson and Chris Lees on the first run of Buck Fell cost them well over a minute and their real chance of taking the fight to Crossen.

Crossen said: “I’m delighted to get my first BHRC win so early. We had a good four stages, but that last one in Buck Fell was the longest stage of my life.” Although he dropped more than 20s to the recovering Henderson in the concluding 11-mile test, Crossen still finished well clear.

Mennell bounced back from a time-consuming first stage overshoot to head Henderson by 16s but Henderson, who also suffered in dust, deserved more for an attacking performance.

Out with another frustrating retirement, this time engine related, went the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 of George Lepley and Dafydd Evans and a gearbox issue claimed Ben Friend and Cliff Simmons in their rapid Escort Mk2.

A small but important overall lead in the BHRC points after two of the six rounds is now held by Adam Milner and Roy Jarvis in their 1600cc Escort Mk1. As expected, they dominated Category 2 and finished fifth overall among the historic pack after another day of Milner slaying giants.

With Lepley out, Category 4 victory went to Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins in their similar Galant VR4, but their day was not without drama. A moment into a ditch just beyond the flying finish of Buck Fell pitched the Mitsubishi into a roll and it concluded the day looking rather battered.

The BHRC action resumes with round three in Wales on the Plains Rally in mid-May.