The opening round of the 2010 Kick Energy Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC) championship took place on Saturday 6 March with seven crews tackling the 35th running of the Malcolm Wilson rally. The event took place over seven stages covering 41 stage miles around the Cumbrian forests of Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter.

The first competitive test of the day was the three0mile Hobcarton stage. Despite being
graced with blue skies and sunshine the stages remained snow covered in places as a result of the recent snowfall and low temperatures. Damien Smith and Frazer Hutchinson marked their debut in the FSC by winning the opening stage. Fellow debutants Jonny Cunningham and Richard Millener were second, just 13seconds behind with John Pritchard, Alex Laffey and Richard Parry0Jones covered by less than ten seconds in third, fourth and fifth.

Stage two, Comb, saw Cunningham take the upper hand and overhaul Smith posting a time 22seconds faster than the 28 year old from Skipton to move into a nine second lead. John Pritchard still held third using his experience as 1995 Skoda Trophy Champion to good use as increased his lead over Laffey to twelve seconds. Cunningham and Smith were proving to be the class of the FSC field and were once again first and second on stage three, Wythop. Cunningham, 26 from Galway, took the victory by just four seconds from Smith. Pritchard took this third, third fastest stage time in succession while the Parry0Jones and co0driver Sara Price set the fourth fastest time to close to within one second of Laffey.

Cunningham and Millener made the most of the experience they had gained at the FSC Pre Season test in Greystoke to claim their hat0trick of stage victories on the first run through Greystoke. With snow and ice still covering much of the stage the perfectly judged when to push and when to take it easy to post a very respectable time overall. This meant that as the crews headed for first service Cunningham held a 40second lead over Smith. Pritchard still held third with Parry0Jones moving into fourth having passed Laffey in stage four. Jamie Brown and Dan O’Brien rounded out the field and with just two seconds between them were locked in their own private battle.

All reported that the stages were extremely slippery and that they were pleased to just make it to service having passed many stranded cars on the way. Despite the treacherous conditions all seven FSC crews made it back to service in one piece. Damien Smith took his second stage win of the event on Grizedale North, closing the gap to Cunningham down to 31seconds. Parry0Jones posted the third fastest time four seconds ahead of Pritchard. 17year old Dan O’Brien posted the fifth fastest time, the youngster steadily improving on only his second event. Cunningham struck back on stage six, Grizedale South, to increase his lead to 43seconds over Smith with just one final stage through Greystoke remaining. Parry0 Jones was obviously more comfortable on the loose gravel of Greystoke than the snow and ice as he once again posted the third fastest time to close the gap to Pritchard to just over 25seconds.

All crews were much happier with the conditions in Grizedale, reporting the loose gravel stages to have much more grip than the snow ice they had encountered in the morning. Rather than taking the cautious option and cruise round the final stage, Cunningham and Millener put in an impressive display to take their fifth stage win of the day. Their time was twelfth fastest overall, ahead some much quicker, 4wd opposition and almost 40seconds ahead of Smith, the second FSC challenger. It was 200year0old Alex Laffey; from Market Harbourgh who posted the third fastest time through Greystoke 2, and continued to impress on his FSC debut.

At the finish it was Cunningham took the first ever FSC victory by one0minute 20seconds from Damien Smith, with John Pritchard in third. The top three finishers all receive a share of the £850 prize fund.

The Fiesta SportChallenge competitors now head to North Wales for the Bulldog Challenge Rally where the championship joins the BRC Challenge.

FSC Winning Driver Jonny Cunningham said:

“This is a perfect start to the year for me. Only last week I decided I would hire a Fiesta ST to use in the championship to see how I would get on. I never imagined I would be spraying the champagne come the end of the event. It’s a brilliant start and I can’t wait for the next round.”

Final Results from Round One:

Position     Driver/Co-Driver                                  Total Time
1st         Jonny Cunningham/Richard Millener         57min 21sec
2nd        Damien Smith/Frazer Hutchinson             58min 41sec
3rd         John Pritchard/Chris Williams                  1hr 01min 38sec
4th         Richard Parry0Jones/Sara Price               1hr 02min 00sec
5th         Alex Laffey/Daniel Swainbank                  1hr 03min 26sec
6th         Dan O’Brien/Will Rogers                           1hr 04min 29sec
7th         Jamie Brown/Craig Burgess                     1hr 05min 02sec

Championship Positions after Round One:

Position     Driver/Co-Driver                                  Points
1st         Jonny Cunningham/Richard Millener              20
2nd        Damien Smith/Frazer Hutchinson                  18
3rd         John Pritchard/Chris Williams                       16
4th         Richard Parry0Jones/Sara Price                    15
5th         Alex Laffey/Daniel Swainbank                       14
6th         Dan O’Brien/Will Rogers                                13
7th         Jamie Brown/Craig Burgess                          12

For more information on the Fiesta SportChallenge please contact series co-ordinator Callum Craw on ccraw@m-sport.co.uk or visit www.fiestasporttrophy.co.uk