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Plains Rally 2010

Black Shines on Plains

Rally: Plains
Venue: Welshpool
Date: 15th May 2010

Competitors:
201 – Matt Edwards – MG ZR Team 586
202 – Darren Pinchin – Proton
203 – Martin Lewis – Nova
204 – Callum Black – MG ZR Team 586
205 – Nigel Jenkins – Nova
237 – Justin Lawson – Nova

Brackley youngster Callum Black and co-driver Paul Wakely travelled to Welshpool for the popular Plains rally last weekend. Callum used the rally to alter the setup of the fantastic 586 prepared MG ZR ahead of his remaining BRC Campaign.

Knowing the competition was fierce with team mate Matt Edwards fighting with Darren Pinchin in the rapid Proton for the BTRDA Millers Oils 1400 Championship, Callum knew he would be up against it. He was surrounded with experienced, local crews that knew the stages extremely well, but the 18 year old was eager to make his mark.

Callum took a steady cautious start on SS1, adapting to the new set up, where Matt Edwards took the lead. However, as confidence picked up Callum was 2nd fastest behind team mate Matt Edwards through the following stages and finished up at service in a respectable 4th, 1 second behind local boy Lewis and 2 seconds behind the championship leader Darren Pinchin.

The following stage after service saw Callum loose some time to Lewis, in a stage that also saw Darren Pinchin have a big crash, fortunately both crew members reported to be OK.

Stage 5 saw a re-run of Gartheiniog, the opening stage, where Callum set a blistering fastest time, beating team mate Matt Edwards by 10 seconds, rival Martin Lewis and the rest of the field by 30 seconds!

Callum then took a steady run through the stage before last, a small 3 mile run, where he posted a 2nd fastest time, 3 seconds off Lewis.

Going into the final ‘Wood Yard’ stage, Matt Edwards was lying first and Callum second, when disaster struck for both, when they both suffered driveshaft failure a mile from the end of the rally.

Callum commented:

“We’ve made huge progress on this rally in terms of the set up and proving our pace against the front runners on their local rally. I set some brilliant stage times today and we had no major moments or issues, so I still know there is a lot more to come. I had to consider we have another rally in 2 weeks so any damage would have an impact on the Jim Clark. It was disappointing not to get the result today, but we have to concentrate on the positives, as Matt and I clearly showed we have the pace over the other 1400’s, setting top 20 stage times in the overall rally. I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into some Tarmac now, bring on the Jim Clark!”.

Callum will next be competing on the Jim Clark rally in Duns on the 28th / 29th of this month. It is another BRC Challenge round where Callum is currently lying 3rd Overall and 1st Junior Driver. It will also be Callum’s first tarmac event.

Please keep looking for regular updates on www.callumblack.com, with recent you tube videos and pictures in the gallery.

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