At first glance the fight for the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Championship may look a little one-sided, with Autosport Technology’s points tally nearly double that of its nearest rival after the Jim Clark International Rally.

The multinational squad with boasts French cars, Estonian and Finnish drivers and a Kent base, has taken the title fight by the horns and despite having less power than any of the rivals certainly has a better scoring record.

A combination of quick drivers and reliable Renault Twingos means that the team has just two retirements from the four events. Finns Mikko Pajunen and Jani Salo slid off the road into one of the many Kielder ditches on The Pirelli Rally, while Estonian BRC debutants Siim Plangi and Marek Sarapuu were forced to sit out the last part of the Jim Clark Rally with an irreparable driveshaft failure.

But as all the teams’ scores count in this tough eight round series, it will be a matter of survival of the fittest all the way to the Isle of Man at the end of October, another four scoring opportunities between now and the end of the season.

It could have been a very different story in Duns, but both M-Sport Ford Rally Team entrants succumbed to radiator damage after minor offs while heading the registered team runners. Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts and John MacCrone/.Stuart Louden had traded places on Friday night, Irishman Breen ending the first evening ahead by over thirty seconds. But he retired after a spin, collecting an unseen hedgerow branch and handing the baton to Scot MacCrone. Two stages further on and MacCrone suffered a similar fate, the Fiestas failing to score for the first time this year.

It was quite the contrary for Team C2R2 Max, as the brace of Citroëns battled head-to head all event, spurring each other on to a great finish and their first double points score of the season. An all Irish affair, Desi Henry and John Rowan’s fourth outing in the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship proved a real test, as Joe McGonigle and Niall Burns pushed them hard after missing this season’s first three events.

Henry pipped his team-mate by just 23 seconds after nearly 145 miles of asphalt competition and with it picked up second placed teams’ points. But neither he nor McGonigle could shift an on-form Pajunen who took Autosport Technology’s Twingo to top team spot,

Reigning BRC Challenge champions Callum Black and Paul Wakely have had a somewhat lonely and mixed season so far in the 586 Sports Suzuki Swift. A sensational BRC Formula 2 podium place on the opening round was followed by second place in the teams’ points in Wales. But tricky conditions on the Jim Clark Rally, retirement on the Pirelli and a one car entry on each event have left the Brackley team fourth, albeit just one point adrift of the Citroëns.

The summer break should give all the crews taking part in this year’s Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Championship time to muster forces and prepare fully for the trip to the next asphalt event, the Toddsleap International Rally NI over the 19th & 20th August.

For a full set of championship tables click HERE

For more information on the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship visit www.rallybrc.co.uk








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