The Tempest wasn’t an official round of this year’s Pirelli British Rally Championship. It was being run to National B regulations and observed with a view to it becoming fully integrated into the Championship next year, when, if all goes well, it will undoubtedly play its part in re-establishing International rallying as a firm favourite with the many potential fans in the densely populated south-east of England.
Run over two days – the first Leg on Saturday and the second on Sunday – the Tempest started right in the centre of Aldershot, with the main spectator stage at Rushmoor Arena only a few miles from junction 4A of the M3. The Tempest has been held since 1958 in various guises, although only in something like its present format since the mid-70s. Event manager Barry Guess has been involved since 1988, and once again he and his stalwart helpers from the Sutton and Cheam Motor Club, the Middlesex County Automobile Club and Hart Motor Club put on a superb event, thoroughly deserving (if most people’s comments were anything to go by) to have itself upgraded to International status for 2003.
As far as the entries were concerned, there was certainly a lack of regular 2002 PBRC regulars on the list, but this was unsurprising perhaps if one considers that it was the end of a long and costly season, and that the Drivers' Championship title had already been decided. At the head of the list, and to its great credit, Peugeot arrived in force with its two regular works 206 Super 1600s for Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery and Rory Galligan/Gordon Noble, in spite of having already wrapped up the Manufacturers’ title. The only competition in this category came from Ryan Champion in a works-backed Ford Puma S16, Ryan getting the chance to upgrade after already winning this year’s Ferodo Puma one-make championship. One especially disappointing non-starter was the first-ever Alfa Romeo147 in Super 1600 configuration, which should have been making its world debut on this event in the capable hands of Steve Hill. Apparently the engine couldn’t be fitted in time.
![Tempest Stages Rally winners Phil Morgan and co-driver Martin Douglas [Subaru Impreza WRC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/45148.jpg )
