Gale wins historic title for XS Racing

News from XS Racing (Chesterfield)

Jonathan Gale and James Whitaker clinched the category one title for XS Racing on the final round of the 2010 Dunlop/WONAGO.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Trackrod Historic Cup (25 September).
 
XS Racing fielded five cars on the popular event in the forests of Yorkshire and, while Gale secured category one on the rally and in the championship, Connor Corkill and Rob Fagg took their Ford Escort Mk2 to third place in category three behind the similar cars of Steve Bannister and Nick Elliott.
 
Gale had to win category one to stand a chance of taking the overall title and duly set a measured pace in his Sunbeam Tiger on the very slippery stages in the Dalby complex. With his major rival Dessie Nutt out on the first stage after hitting a bale, Jonathan was able to take a cautious approach and then up his pace a little on the concluding 16-mile stage in Langdale to see off the rest of the category one opposition.
 
"It was a funny day," said Gale. "I didn't want to push stupidly hard and once I knew Dessie was out I just did enough." Unfortunately for Gale and Whitaker, David Stokes took maximum points in category two, so he won the overall title. Nevertheless, the category one crown was just reward for a great campaign.
 
Corkill, at 21-years old the youngest ever winner of a BHRC event, was back in the forests for the first time since June and was making his debut in the high-speed Yorkshire forests. "XS Racing has done a brilliant job with the car this year," said the Manxman. "They've turned the car into a winner."
 
After a steady run over the first two stages, Corkill really got into his stride and was very close to the pace of established aces Bannister and Elliott over the final two stages to secure third in category three. "The car was fine this morning, it was just me," said Corkill. "After that we pulled our fingers out!"
 
On the opening stage, the XS Racing entered Escort Mk1 of Steven Smith and John Nichols set a scorching pace in category two and took a 10s lead in the category. Unfortunately, they lost time on the second stage with an overshoot and then a gentle roll on stage three put them out of contention.
 
The challenging Dalby complex claimed both Peter and Guy Smith as the father and son duo rallied on their home event. Peter and Russ Langthorne were sidelined by an ignition problem that stopped their Escort Mk1 at the start of the Staindale stage. Guy, partnered by Patrick Walsh, went out on the Givendale stage with transmission problems in their Escort Mk1.
 
Over the same weekend, the XS team was busy in Belgium fielding the Escort Mk1 of Peter Egerton and Howard Pridmore on the Hemicuda Rally. They had a superb run to finish second overall and first in class in the historic rally as the car ran faultlessly.
 
XS Racing specialises in all types of historic rally preparation and parts supply across a wide range of cars. XS Racing can be contacted on 01246 233777.