Testing times for Tegsport on Manx Rally

Sat, 08 May 2010

Keith Cronin and Barry McNulty exit the Foxdale Deads

The Pirelli TEG Sport Rally Team endured a fraught time and frustrating end to a testing weekend on this weekend's Manx Telecom Rally when Scottish driver Euan Thorburn crashed out on Friday night and Irish talent Keith Cronin retired from second overall with one stage to go.

The Carnforth-based team had entered the two-day Manx event with one goal and that was to gain experience of their TEIN Suspension over the notoriously bumpy lanes that comprise the Island as they prepare for the next three tarmac rounds of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship.

23-year-old Scottish Group N Champion Euan Thorburn and co driver Paul Beaton had an early end to their second ever visit to the Island when the pair were caught out on a notoriously bumpy section midway through the third stage on Friday night. Thorburn lost control of his Subaru Impreza at an estimated 125mph with catastrophic results and whilst both crew members were uninjured, the previously pristine Impreza was badly damaged.

By contrast, team-mate and defending British Rally Champion and winner of the Pirelli Star Driver shoot-out in 2009, Keith Cronin, along with co driver Barry McNulty, enjoyed a very constructive weekend. Whilst the main intention was to work on set up, Cronin was still at his best, dominating Group N and lying second overall for most of the event and setting a number of fastest stage times. However, two stages from the end of the 15-stage rally, 23-year-old Cronin's Impreza stepped out on a medium speed corner and the Irishman clipped a tree, bending a rear bottom arm and ultimately retiring to save further damage to the car.

Stuart Newby - TEG Sport Team Principal:  "This weekend might look like a bit of a disaster but we actually have a lot of positives to take away from this event. Ignoring Keith's amazing stage times, our main objective was to work on the suspension settings. Our partners TEIN had flown one of their top technicians out from Japan purely to test some new components and by the end of the event we had found a very good base setting. What happened with Euan was just silly. He knew that we were here to test and not to race but his youthfulness got the better of him. The car is fairly extensively damaged and it's doubtful that we will have it ready in time for the Jim Clark, which is very unfortunate."

The next round of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship takes place on 28/29th May with the Jim Clark International Rally based in Kelso.

Further information on the team, drivers and championship, please visit: www.tegsport.co.uk, www.keithcroninrallying.com, www.euanthorburn.com and www.rallybrc.co.uk.

Results

1, Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick - Ford Focus WRC - 1:38:16.2
2, Steven Quine/Richard Skinner - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI - 1:41:36.5
3, Damian Cole/Craig Drew - Ford Focus WRC - 1:42:17.7
4, Jonathon Greer/Dai Roberts - Mitsubishi Evo 9 - 1:42:18.9
5, Graham Coffey/David Gamblin - Subaru Impreza S12 WRC - 1:42:51.4
6, Andrew Leece/Graham Fargher - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI - 1:43:22.3
7, John Stone/Lee Carter - Skoda Fabia WRC - 1:43:23.8
8, Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt - MG Metro 6R4 - 1:44:18.9
9, Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity - Ford Escort - 1:44:46.7
10, Martyn Jones/Maurice Snell - Mitsubishi Evo VI - 1:45:19.4

Picture courtesy of Geoff Mayes:  Keith Cronin and Barry McNulty in action on the Manx Telecom Rally.