DALE DOMINATES ULSTER
Renault Clio Ragnotti driver Justin Dale and co-driver Andrew Bargery mastered the tricky conditions over the stages of the Ulster International Rally to secure a convincing class victory by almost five minutes.
The Armagh based event began on Friday afternoon and the talented pair soon stamped their authority on the class, winning all of the day's stages to lead the class by around two minutes by the late night halt.
Seven o'clock Saturday morning saw the crews greeted by stormy skies and torrential rain. After consultation with the Kumho tyre engineers fully grooved wet pattern tyres were fitted to the diminutive Clio before Justin and Andrew set out to tackle the treacherous lanes. Throughout the day they extended their class lead taking stage victory on all but one of the event's fifteen stages.
At the end of the rally a jubilant Dale commented "That has to be one of the most difficult events I can remember. The conditions were really tricky and the level of concentration needed has been incredible. The car has not missed a beat - our only problem has been a puncture when we caught a rock pulled out by one of the four wheel drive cars. The Clio is a great little car, it has taken everything we've thrown at it this weekend without any hesitation. Fantastic!"
The Autosport Technology team were also delighted with the result. "The whole team has had to work in very difficult conditions this weekend and the stages have been really slippy. Justin and Andrew have driven really well to bring the car home in a superb 9th overall amongst the BRC contenders with just one of the more powerful S1600 cars in front of them - and there's not a mark on the Clio! We can now prepare for the next round of the BRC, the Yorkshire based Trackrod Rally on the 7th of October."
Justin Dale and Andrew Bargery are supported in their 2006 Tesco 99 Octane BRC campaign by Gilbran, Kumho tyres, King Sturge, Graham Hire and Speedline.
5th Sep 2006
