The Red Peugeot was successfully tested earlier this month at Curborough Sprint Circuit. Considerable body repairs were carried out by Frank Stones Garage following Richards "minor" collision with a big block of concrete at The Abingdon CAR-nival Stages in July. (See Gallery pictures).
The rally car was trailered, behind the Mechatronics service van (piloted by Grandad Clews with David Lea alongside), to Wales for scrutineering at 4.30pm. Barry and Richard travelled separately to Epynt and discovered The Drovers Arms, (a pub in the middle of nowhere) unused since 1940 when the entire area, including 54 dwellings, was "acquired" by the military as an artillery training range.Richard and Barry decided to take the opportunity of creating their own pacenotes for this event. The venue was new to the Team but Richard and Barry were confident the immaculate Red Peugeot would finish successfully.
Richard was extremely grateful to AB Motorsport for their incredible deal supplying new wheels and tarmac tyres specifically for this event.
The experienced service crew from Coventry Automotive were desperately missing Phil, (who was competing in a Kart Race in Belgium) - it was suggested (in future) written confirmation would be mandatory for Team absentees!
Having completed the recce and compiled their pacenotes Richard and Barry met the service van at Builth Wells Showground for scrutineering of the 106. Richard unfortunately pressed the trigger switch of the onboard fire extinguisher opposed to the "Test" which gave a live performance of the systems capability to the surprised scrutineers! Thanks were expressed to David Lea (ITG) who drove to meet Adrian at Junction 7 of the M5 to replace the empty extinguisher and also Ford Motorsport who kindly loaned Richard an extinguisher to get the Red Peugeot through scrutineering!
The Team arrived at their Guest House around 8.30pm, following a swift interior valet of the 106, and after a restless nights sleep awoke to glorious Welsh sunshine.
Epynt is one of the most popular and least forgiving stage rallying venues in the UK with fast, undulating, narrow smooth tarmac roads leaving little margin for error for newcomers. A controlled, thoughtful approach was decided upon with the emphasis on learning the stages and completing the event, without the additional pressure of continually monitoring competitors time sheets.
The first stages were 8 and 10 miles in groups of two, with no problems reported during first service. During the next 18 mile stage a front wheelarch loosened causing it to rub on the tyre and fill the cabin with sickening rubber fumes. On returning to service, feeling rather unwell, Richard was approached and interviewed by the producers of the National Tarmacadam Championship video. (The crew were 4th in class during the event but leading the Championship).
Richard and Barry discovered on stages 6, 7 and 8 why precise local knowledge of the jumps and crests was an advantage. The crew described the roads as three-dimensional requiring a mixture of commitment and blind faith!
The repeat of stage 7 was cancelled and the final stage was a second run of stage 8. Richard and Barry pushed a little harder and managed to secure their lead in the Championship, finishing the event a pleasing overall 37th (undamaged) from an entry list of 121.
Richard and Barry look forward to returning to Epynt hoping this years experience will increase their competitiveness in 2004.

For further information concerning Epynt, its history and fascinating relationship with pre-war and post-war motorsport visit:
www.silverdragons.co.uk