For a championship that was supposed to be on its knees, this weekend’s Pirelli British Rally Championship opening round was a remarkably swift and spectacular resuscitation.
Some 43 competitive crews lined up for the start of the 2003 Pirelli International Rally, and amongst them were as many world-class British drivers as one would expect to see in any WRC event - including Rally GB - plus some exciting foreign drivers. At what other British-based rallies could you expect to see the likes of Mark Higgins, Gwyndaf Evans, Garry Jennings, Jonny Milner, Jari-Matti Latvala, Austin McHale, Tapio Laukkanen, Martin Stenshorne, Mats Anderson, Kris Meeke, Guy Wilks, Mirco Baldacci, Leon Pesticcio, Nik Elsmore and James Thompson battle through classic British forest stages, in dreadful weather, and in the best cars available?
It was a pity that there could only be one winner, such was the determination, skill and commitment of the every single crew, but – fast-forwarding to the end – Tapio Laukkanen showed why he’s regarded as one of the best drivers around today by claiming the stop step of the podium from current British Rally champion Jonny Milner.
Mark Higgins, who completed a fantastic drive to bring his Super 1600 Clio to the finish only a minute behind Tapio’s WRC car, after over 100 stage miles in the so-called ‘Killer’ Kielder forest complex, claimed third. At this point, a special mention must be made on behalf of the unfortunate Guy Wilks, who rolled his Ford Racing S1600 Puma just one kilometre from the end of the final stage whilst lying third. It was a cruel end to one of the best drives of his career.
