Hard Fought Sixth for Edwards on BRC Opener

 
The Swift Rally Team of Matt Edwards and new Co-Driver Darren Garrod secured a promising 6th Overall on the opening round of the British Rally Championship over the weekend, surviving arduous conditions and troubles with the handling of their Fiesta R5 to take some valuable championship points.
 
With little pre-event testing under their belts, the first Friday night stages were to provide Edwards and Garrod with their first taste of competition as a partnership and on gravel surface in the loose and slippery Craik Forest. The Swift Group, Holton Homes, and Morris lubricants supported car was to set identical times on both runs of the 6 mile test to lie a promising 5th overall against tough competition; however some issues with the light adjustment and a general nervous feeling in the car were to cost the pair some valuable time.
 
Onto a damp start to Saturday morning in the Wauchope and Hyndlee tests, the time loss was evident still further as the crew, who are also supported by Corvus Security Lts, Speedline Corse, and Hankook Tyres, struggled to keep their machines momentum up through the narrow and winding forest stages as Edwards explains;
 
“We are finding the going fairly tough it has to be said. We had a fairly good run last night which is standing us in good stead today, as we are still not finding the times we would like despite a fairly neat run through the stages. The car is quite difficult to keep on line but of course my inexperience in the car could be a factor, however we are hopeful we can get to the bottom of it with the help of the team at service and start to make some progress; at least we are still here and the position is quite encouraging considering!”
 
A further two tests in the Spectacular Tweed Valley offered no let up for the competitors from the tricky conditions, and despite a better run through the first half of the fifth stage, a slippery section caught out the Welsh pair resulting in a minor off road excursion. With the help of spectators, the Swift Group machine quickly regained the road and completed the stage but with the loss of a minute to their rivals and with a further 15 seconds conceded in the following test to ensure the car could be checked at service, it was proving to be a challenging day in more ways than one.
 
After a clean bill of health and a radical change to the car, the Welsh crew set out to claw back some lost time and rebuild some confidence. This they managed in some style, gaining two places in the following two repeated stages, including a 4th fastest overall time in the Elibank stage, and a further place was gained in the final Yair test to net them a rewarding 6th overall for their efforts.
 
“Yes we are very pleased with the end result, in fact its one we would certainly have accepted at the start of the event. We have had some issues over the course of the event and are very grateful to everyone in service and with their help and experience and the benefit of Hankook tyres onboard we have been able to work through it to a pleasing conclusion”, explained a relieved Edwards at the finish in Jedburgh
 
The Championship continues to the Pirelli Rally in April where The Swift Team will work to consolidate their promising start to the season.
 
More information on the Swift Group can be found at www.swiftgroup.co.uk
 
Swift Group is the UK’s premier manufacturer of caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes. Established over 50 years ago, the company is based in Cottingham, East Yorkshire with manufacturing facilities in Cottingham and Mexborough, near Doncaster.