Cars That Go Fast: All To Play For In Kielder... All To Play For In Kielder... ================================================================================ Elton on 16 April, 2010 03:10:00 Round two of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship sees many of the UK's leading rally drivers and their exotic, multi-million pound machinery making the trip to Carlisle in what is set to be a keenly contested affair. This year sees the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria as the only chance the ANCRO competitors get to tackle the infamous Kielder Forest given the series has been scaled down from eight rounds to six this year, and as such the Jedburgh-based Border Counties Rally has been axed from the calendar. Defending champions Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery got their title defence underway in the best possible fashion with a seventh career win on Rallye Sunseeker back in February and the five times National champions will be hoping for another maximum points haul in their Hyundai Accent WRC in Cumbria, assuming they make the trip north as they have still to appear on the entry list! Assuming they're on the start ramp, they'll be looking for a bit easier ride than the one experienced twelve months ago which saw one of the closest finishes in recent history as just ten seconds separated the leading three drivers. Back then, and despite a persistent gearbox problem, Dodd edged out local ace Paul Bird as well as another ex-champion Steve Perez to win by just 4.6 seconds. Due to other commitments, neither Bird nor Perez will be joining Dodd potentially on the start line but there's plenty of competition nonetheless as former double British Champion Jonny Milner makes a welcome return to Kielder and along with co driver Ian Windress, they are hoping to mount a challenge for the title in the venerable Toyota Corolla WRC which, in Milner's very capable hands, will be more than a match for the more modern machinery. The quality continues to flow with former ANCRO Champions Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield in action in their Subaru WRC whereas the flamboyant Charlie Payne and co driver Craig Thorley will return to action in their recently acquired Ford Focus WRC06. Top runners Tristan Pye/Stewart Merry (Subaru), Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster (Subaru), and Kevin Rowledge/Paul Whittaker (Mitsubishi) will be at the cutting edge, as will the Mitsubishis of Nigel Seabold/Bob Stokoe, James Anderson/Mark Mason and Tom Naughton/Horace Saville. The Subaru of Trevor Martin/Ray Cleghorn and Edmund Peel in his Audi Quattro will add to the spectacle and throw in the likes of Stephen Petch/John Richardson (Hyundai Accent WRC) as well as Ladies Champion Shelley Taunt/Julie Murphy (Subaru) and top Viking Ford Escort Challenge crew Robert Cholmondeley/Dave Evans and it's a mouth-watering prospect. More details, including entry lists, spectator information and maps etc on the event can be found at www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk and information on the 2010 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship is listed at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk. 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship after Rallye Sunseeker (round one) 1, Marcus Dodd 25pts 2, Steve Perez 22pts 3, Roger Duckworth 20pts 4, Paul Bird 19pts 5, Jonny Milner 18pts 6, Stephen Petch 17pts