NETRC UTS Cheviot Keith Knox stages 2012

Having won it two years ago, John Stone was unable to take up the No.1 spot on the
2011 UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages Rally as his Skoda Fabia WRC was still
undergoing repairs following major engine damage earlier in the season. Similarly,
last year’s victor Damian Cole is foregoing the opportunity to do likewise this time,
affording Stone the opportunity to lead the field away from the start on Sunday 4th
November. With Lee Carter reading the route notes, Stone will leave the Airstrips, on
the Otterburn Ranges, at 8.30am for the first of the nine special stages that go to
make up the competitive element of the event.
Behind Stone, John Indri has Steve Hartley with him in his Darrian T90 GTR. No
slouch in his two-wheel drive machine, Indri was 3rd on the Cheviot last year and the
Chelmsford driver will be looking to finish what has been a dreadful season on a
high. Consequently, top of his ‘wish-list’ will be dry weather!…
Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt are at No.3 in the first of two MG Metro 6R4s in the entry,
whilst another former Otterburn event winner, Andy Fenwick, has enlisted the
services of Andrew Roughead to guide his Hyundai Accent WRC over the Ranges.
Carlisle driver Peter Taylor, who retired last year whilst holding a Top Ten place in
his Renault Clio, has placed an entry but has yet to nominate either a car or a codriver!
George Mackey/Paul Hughes round off the Top Six in their Subaru Impreza and the
remainder of the Top Twenty is as follows :
7. Chris Jones/Ashley Trimble Ford Focus STI
8. Bob Grant/Pete Carstairs Subaru Impreza
9. David Hardie/Bruce Harper Subaru Impreza
10. Richard Cook/Edwin Cook Subaru Impreza
11. Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt Subaru Impreza
12. Barry Lindsay/Michael Lindsay Peugeot 106 GTI
Event website: www.cheviotstages.org.uk
13. ———-
14. Pete Gibson/Josh Davison Mitsubishi Lancer EVO6
15. Simon Chapman/Michael Calvert MG Metro 6R4
16. Richard Felgate/Mark Mason BMW M3
17. David Conley/Mike Scrimgour Hillman Avenger BRM
18. Jim Sharp/Craig Wallace Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9
19. Richard Clews/Andrew Edwards Subaru Impreza STI
20. Kevin Knox/Jimmy Knox Ford Sierra
21. Ricky Wheeler/Robin Laird Ford Escort MkII
The UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages Rally is the final round of both the REIS – Get Connected MSA Asphalt and AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Rally Championships. Pete Gibson (Car 14) is occupying 3rd place in the North of England points but is ideally placed to overhaul current runner-up Chris Anderson who, having had a couple of excellent results on Otterburn earlier in the season, will be absent this time.
Gibson is also the highest-placed driver in the SG Petch ANECCC Championship contesting the Cheviot, but this particular series does not conclude until the Grizedale Stages at the start of December.
Spectators are welcome at Leighton Hill – see http://www.cheviotstages.co.uk for further details.
The first car is due back at the Airstrips for the finish of the event at 4.00pm on the Sunday afternoon.