DALE DELIGHTED!
"Haven't had as much fun in a rally car for years!" exclaimed a delighted Justin Dale when he jumped out of the Renault Clio Ragnotti at the end of this weekend's Pirelli International Rally, the first round of the Tesco 99 Octane BRC Championship.
Dale and co-driver Andrew Bargery drove a perfect rally over the demanding stages in the Kielder forest complex, near Carlisle. In their Kumho shod Clio, they were fastest in the R3 class on every single stage, to record a class victory by over nine minutes but were also the second front wheel drive car in the overall standings, headed by only one of the S1600 machines. On the final stage they out performed all the two wheel drive opposition to record a superb time 2.1 secs faster than all the S1600 cars.
With an impressive start list of many 'past' BRC champions, Justin and Andrew - S1600 champions in 1999 and 2002 - proved to be a partnership who delivered.
The Autosport Technology prepared Clio performed superbly and Justin and Andrew were really happy with their rally. "It's our first forest event for over three years so we took a little while to get really confident in the car but the Clio does everything we ask of it - and more! The handling capability of the car - on its Ohlin dampers - is fantastic and the whole package is really effective. Just not sure when Andrew and I will stop smiling! The next round of the BRC, the Jim Clark Rally, is an event we always enjoy so I think we'll have some real fun there!" commented Dale.
The Autosport Technology team were equally pleased with the event. "It's very pleasing to see the Clio driven so well and to be able to show what the car is capable of. Justin and Andrew went really well and we're already looking forward to the next rally. It should be a great year!"
Dale and co driver Andrew Bargery are supported in their 2006 BRC campaign by Gilbran, Kumho tyres, King Sturge, Graham Properties and Speedline.
15th May 2006
