Two top-10 finishes for Fylde coast rallyists at the Garstang and Preston Motor Club Autumn Stages

Two local crews had top-10 finishes as Fylde coast rallyists contested the Garstang and Preston Motor Club Autumn Stages, writes PHIL JAMES.

The rally was the club’s second of its two annual events at the Three Sisters Race Circuit near Wigan.

Pilling’s Jordan Murphy and John Hornby were quickly off the mark, sustaining their pace throughout the day to bring their RAC Consultants Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 home in third overall and win the first in Class 1 Awards.

It was a sweet result for Murphy, who beat his father Paul in the process.

Murphy Snr had pressed his son hard but a failed wheel bearing on his Lancer Evo6 meant it was game over for him and Hambleton co-driver Richard Robinson.

Paul Webster, from Thornton Cleveleys, and Fleetwood Auto Engineer Mark Holmes claimed the Class 5 runner-up award.

Their Ford Escort Mk2 maintained a top-10 placing throughout the day, eventually finishing eighth overall.

Other locals who finished included Matthew Harwood and Cameron Thompson, who were 14th in their Subaru Impreza, David Lawson and Matt Faulkner who finished 23rd in a Suzuki Swift Sport, while Nick Stafford and Darren Keiller’s Mini Cooper came home 27th.

Any hope Pilling’s Olly Hunter and Blackpool’s Craig Simkiss had of a top-10 finish were scuppered when their Ford Escort Mk2 spun off the track and clattered the tyre wall on stage three.

They made a determined effort to climb the leaderboard, but a brake issue brought their rally to a premature end after stage 10.

Top honours on the day went to North Wales’ Jason and Lee Wilson, who finished half a minute ahead of Dave Roberts and Daniel Callaghan.