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Caerwent bites again!

Once again, the Welsh village of Caerwent played host to another frustrating retirement for the Micra F1000 pair. What was looking like a successful return to Wales for both drivers ended on SS4 when the car got out of shape on a fast right hander, destroying the rear axle on one of the venue’s infamous kerbs. 

The event had started well, with a comfortable second place looking likely. Clutch problems on the second stage threatened to end play early on, but a change of driving style to keep things cool meant that as little time as possible was lost as a result of the slipping clutch. 

Paul explains: “We were approaching a 3^rd gear right hand bend, on the limit and for some reason there wasn’t as much grip as we had found earlier on in the day in the same spot. The car bounced off the kerb at speed, and from there it was a frustrating few minutes as we tried to limp back to service. It obviously wasn’t meant to be, but as usual the event proved exciting and the F1000 crew were as welcoming as usual – it was good to make a return for the day!” 

Although the Micra would limp another two miles or so on the broken axle, the wheel came off completely around a mile from the end of SS4, shattering the brake lines and leaving the lads with nothing to do but attempt to claim a maximum stage time to continue the rally after repairs in service. 

Unfortunately, the rules didn’t allow this, and it was to be the team’s second retirement at Caerwent in as many visits. Joe still leads the F1000 driver’s championship, but Darren Whitworth will make up some crucial ground if the day ends well for him. At the time of going to press, the results were not finalised.

 

 

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