HERO Challenge Three Preview
*Championship Decider in Bomber County
*Navigator Outhwaite Pitching for His Hat-trick.
*Ayris Top of Drivers’ Standings and Hoping History Does Not repeat.
This weekend HERO Challenge Three, the company’s specialist one day regularity rally event, will take place in the Lincolnshire Wolds, right in the heart of Bomber County. Challenge Three holds more significance though, as it is also the final round of the Challenge Championship, and it is all to play for.
The event itself will involve a circa 150-mile route, with five regularities and nine tests, which Clerk of the Course, James Phillips tells me are “a mixture of private land and farmyards, so we are not just off-road for the tests, but also for some elements of the regularities as well.”
The Challenge events are always popular, but this last round of the year has attracted a bumper entry of 93 cars, making it the best subscribed event of its kind this year. There is a real mixture of abilities within the entry, in an event that was always designed as a bridge for those looking to increase their experience and move on to the more difficult events out there, as such the competition can only be won by those not classified as Masters, although there is a Masters category for those who still wish to enter, as the rally also offers a great environment to shake down for other events.
But what can the bumper field of competitors expect? Well, James and the competition team have been working hard to generate a route that offers something a little bit different, “we wanted to dispel the myth of Lincolnshire being flat and dull and offer an exciting day behind the wheel. It is the last round of the championship, so it will be a touch more challenging than the previous two rounds, so the crews can build further on all their experiences in the first two rounds. It’s a classic Challenge rally really, but with some elements of Rally of the Tests and there is of course the weather element, that could easily add some extra spice”.
A prospect to savour then, and an event that could be won by any number of those in the packed field. The wider story though, is of course the conclusion of the Championship itself, with Simon Ayris currently top of the drivers’ standings. There are ten points between him and Patrick Walker in second, with a chasing pack of Steve Farmer and this year’s London to Lisbon second place Ken Binstead just a couple more points behind. Going into the final round of last year’s championship finale, Ayris was in second with 24 points, but the highest placed entrant for the final round. Things didn’t go to plan that day, but with two second place finishes this year, he has already equaled his final championship total of 30 points, and so the title is surely his to lose.
The trophy for the navigators is much tighter, with current leader Matt Outhwaite on 26 points, tied with James Bloxidge in second. Matt is Simon Ayris partner, so it could be a double for the crew if things go well, and a hattrick of Championships for Outhwaite as well. James Bloxidge is not entered, so the fight for the title will need to be taken on by the chasing pack, of whom Tim Sawyer is closest, just two points behind Outhwaite and currently in third. The driver turned navigator seems to be relishing life in the other seat, and will this time be paired with Dave Smith, who, on his day, can certainly be a threat to the podium positions. Behind that there are a trio of navigators tied on 20 points, including Sarah Binstead, Harry Baines and Daisy Walker, who are all capable of a win, ensuring an intriguing finish to the Navigators Championship.
There is a number of wildcards throughout the field that could upset the given order of things, including Dan Willan, who is driving Danielle Pool, this year’s Bob Rutherford Scholarship winner, and herself on 18 points. Dan is a top driver, and Danielle will certainly be getting the ride of her life alongside the current and multiple Rally of the Tests Champion Willan, and Pool may even be an outside bet for a championship podium.
The final round is set for an intriguing battle then, will history repeat itself or will Simon Ayris finish victorious? And is there a new name to be etched into the navigator’s trophy, or will Matt Outhwaite win the Championship for a third time? With an interesting route and with the awful weather seen recently set to continue, securing the win is going to be a challenge.