Dealer Team Suzuki's Lorna Smith was crowned the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA BRC Ladies champion last weekend on the International Rally Yorkshire.
Although Smith was the only runner in contention for the Ladies title, she has been very happy with her season to date and was content to have finished fourth in class on the Trackrod.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed a great season so far driving for Suzuki GB, the camaraderie and spirit within the team is fantastic and the Swift Sport is ultra reliable and great fun to drive,” she noted. “Joanne [Oakey – my co-driver] and I are loving this opportunity - it's like a dream, we really don't want the season to end.”
Both girls were called up by Suzuki GB Team boss Ian Robinson at the start of the year to campaign the new Swift Sport rally car in both the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship and the Irish Tarmac Championship.
Despite a few brushes with the scenery, Lorna's combination of speed and reliability has already secured her the Irish Group N2 title - and now the BRC Ladies' title, although the former was definitely the more prestigious for obvious reasons.
“It's fantastic that Lorna and Joanne have won the British Ladies' title to add to their Irish wins,” added Robinson.
“The teams focus now is on Wales Rally GB at the end of November with the objective of securing the British Rally Class R2 Championship, and we still have an outside chance of securing the Manufacturers title too.”
James Wozencroft meanwhile finished second in class on the Trackrod in the sister Dealer Team Suzuki car, despite losing two minutes on the first stage with electrical problems.
“After stage one our hopes of posting a good result looked decidedly bleak,” Robinson continued, “but both James and Lorna pushed on throughout the day, and the strength and reliability of the Suzuki Swift Sport N2 cars came to the fore, as one by one our main opponents fell by the wayside.”
