In the second of our closer looks at some of the upcoming battles in the SRC on the Carlisle Stages Rally we concentrate on the Albyn Garage Challengers titles.
After the massive disappointment of the 1st round retirement with a blown engine, Angus Lawrie bounced back in emphatic style, clinching the Challengers Drivers title with his 6th consecutive maximum score on his home event.
However, as the reigning Challengers Champion, Co-driver Paul Gribben was ineligible, so the destination of the Co-drivers title remains undecided going into the final round.
Although there are still 4 co-drivers in with a mathematical chance of taking the title, the man very much in the driving seat (as it were) is Tom Hynd who, regardless of how others do, only needs to finish in the top 9 Challengers to be crowned 2022 Champion. That sounds straightforward enough, but stranger things have happened so I’m sure nothing will be getting taken for granted.
Should the unexpected happen, Brian Hodgson currently leads the chase by a solitary point from Michael Cruickshank. With both having 5 scores they can count their full score from the final round. Brian will be alongside regular driver Stuart Egglestone in the impressive historic spec. pinto-engined Mk2 Escort, while Michael will end his season-long seat swapping exploits in the Jordan Anderson Impreza.
The final contender is Mairi Riddick in the glorious-sounding, high-revving and indecently quick 1600 MG ZR she shares with brother Keith. A long odd outside bet undoubtedly but you just never know.
