Pardoes proud sponsor of Chris Hellings - Rally 2009 Round Up
Chris Hellings, sponsored by Pardoes had a great year with some top results in the BTRDA Rally Championship.
Stepping up from last year, with a new car, the Ti Motorsport built MG finally came together with just a few hours to spare before the first event of the season - the Wydedean Rally, Monmouthshire. The event weekend coincided with the ‘cold snap' in February 09 and conditions were more like ‘Rally Sweden' and very different to anything normally experienced in the UK. However, despite the extraordinary slippery stages, and an unfamiliar car that needed a few set up tweaks, the team was very pleased to come home mid way down the class in 6th giving a positive start to the championships.
The next rally saw Chris take second place, a first Rally First podium finish as well as top Somerset Crew.
Unfortunately, wet and slippery conditions and technical car faults didn't prove for a great start at the Plains Rally, Mid Wales, the third rally in the championship. However, Chris showed he has definitely got the pace to complete setting his first Rally First fastest stage time through the infamous Mick Jones' Timber Yard.
Pushing through the stages and Chris currently 6th in the championship, the next round took Chris back to Mid Wales and the Epynt ranges (used as part of Wales Rally GB) for the Quinton Rally. The stages are renowned for being fast and flowing, which suited the car perfectly. Chris held 3rd for the majority of the day but got pipped by 1 second on the last stage to drop to 4th in Rally First, however, finishing 9th 1400 overall, this was Chris's best overall result to date.
Finally, moving onto the Woodpecker, despite fierce competition, Chris held up third position and developing a reasonable buffer to the rest of the field was hopeful for 2nd place in the final stage. However, engine problems towards the end of the stage brought an end to the day, season and championship.
All in all it a proved a great year with some top results and with a bit more time in the car and set up refinements, Chris has proved that he has got the pace to complete at a national level.
Pardoes have proudly supported Chris Hellings since 2007, Chris competing in the Peugeot 205 Challenge in 2008 progressing to the BTDRA in 2009.