by Geoff Mayes
Mark Gamble and his co-driver Steve Link dedicated their dominant win on last weekends Tempest Rally to close friend - and fellow Wolverhampton and South Staffs car club member - Ray Lloyd.
Gamble and Link, who led the British Rally Championship ‘stars' category earlier in the year, returned for the final round to provide support for their JAM Motorsport team mates Richard Sykes and Simon Taylor, who still had the chance to clinch the championship title.
When Sykes succumbed to gearbox failure just before the mid way point whilst leading, Gamble chased down champion elect Luke Pinder, overcoming intermittent fuel feed problems on his trusty Peugeot 106.
Despite not having a fault free stage all day long Gamble and Link, were constantly in the top two in class throughout the tough event. When Pinder's Ford suffered driveshaft failure, Gamble was able to pounce and take victory.
As icing on the cake the duo returned to the ceremonial finish classified second overall in the two-wheel drive rally as well, beating a score of far more powerful cars.
“I recently lost my close friend Ray Lloyd in a rallying accident and we drove hard today in memory of him,” Gamble said. “So I'd like to dedicate this very special win to him.
“2007 has been a pretty mixed year but between Richard and I we have proved that our cars are the class of the field. Five wins from seven ‘stars' events and between us we've led every single rally. Next year we are going to return in something new and exciting… watch this space!”
Despite missing out on the coveted championship title Sykes and Gamble finished second and third overall respectively in the MSA class of the 2007
Silverstone Stars Rally Championship.
