Skoda Rally Blog

So, this was to be Paul’s first rally of (hopefully) six, to get his International licence…..

After yesterday’s issues, I was dreading another ‘little’ problem stopping us from even getting there let alone competing, but I woke up nice and early (5:45) and got there by 8am, which was really good. It was quite busy there, but we got a space by Gary Hayter, which meant we could shelter in the shadow from his EZ-Up which was very handy. Got all the maps ready, and then realised I was as nervous as if I was driving, but this was probably because I was worried about the car. Anyway, off we went, and did Stage 1, which was taking it relatively easy as Paul had never driven the car before, but it went OK. He was a bit ragged (well, quite a lot), but we didn’t hit anything, although there were a couple of close moments in the tight areas by the bomb dumps. Second run was a bit better and neater, although it being sunny meant it was already getting quite hot in the car, and it was still before 11am. We got caught up by car 83, who overtook us and then promptly span in front of us, so we overtook him. Down the next straight he was catching us, but not enough to overtake yet, we could let him past on the next straight, but he had other ideas, and I was alarmed to see his bonnet right by my window. It could have got messy, but thankfully (luck/judgement? Who knows!) we didn’t hit. But it was damn close. Stage 3 was a slight change, but getting better again, but Paul took it a little close to a chicane and BANG! off went his mirror. Which was a problem because we were being lapped by faster traffic and not seeing them could be fatal, especially considering what had already happened!

However, there was worse to come. Car 100, a Suzuki Swift (very nice, tidy car, and pretty quick) was nearly catching us each time towards the end of the run, but not enough to actually overtake us. But at the end of stage 4, we were running through the last ‘bus stop’ chicane, and they were about 5 seconds behind. And Paul overdid it, went into the last corner too fast and hit the pallets on the exit (which had moved each time, and I’d called them as being tight, but there you go….). And I looked in the remaining mirror and saw the car coming, and then…. skid…. BANG! They’d hit us, fairly hard, it seemed. They backed up, and got free, and I could see in the mirror that their headlamp was smashed, indicator gone, bumper, bonnet and wing beaten in. I didn’t want to look at the back of the car, but we had the last mile or so of the stage to cover anyway, so off we went once we’d de-beached the car. We got to the end, and then back to service. I had a look and…. nothing looked broken! The bumper was a bit scratched and had some dents in it, but that was it really – had a look behind the bumper and there was a dented panel, but that was it. Went to see the Swift guys who were putting a brave face on it, but they didn’t seem happy, but it’s my opinion that if you’re behind a car you want to keep clear of it until you’re not going to hit them. I asked if I could have my green paint back…..

Anyway, the next stages were more of the same – reversals of the previous stages, so some of the corners were a bit awkward as they might have been wide exits and were now tight. Paul was getting a bit better, but we had a fuel issue (it was drinking the stuff), so before Stage 6 we drove off to the petrol station and filled up! Saves on jerry cans, or waiting round the service area, for sure. But now we had some fuel we went for it again, and all went well. In short, we kept it nice and tight, and finished.

1 down. 5 to go.

Caerwent is next. This will be a serious challenge, as nearly every corner is kerbed, and one error will mean game over. A finish there will be a real achievement.