Ian Hardy Motorsport Photography 

Anderson Impresses at Croft

posted on 20-01-2011

County Durham rally driver Chris Anderson was back in action at Croft Circuit for the second time in just over two weeks last Sunday and this time came away with a much better result with a top fifteen placing on the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally.



Having contested the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally in the ice and snow, which wasn't to his or the car's liking, the 18-year-old maintenance engineer from Butterknowle near Bishop Auckland was at the wheel of the Chris Birkbeck-prepared ex M-Sport 2000cc Ford Fiesta, with backing from Wilkinson Maintenance Ltd and John Cullerton & Sons.

Along with Durham co-driver Chris Thirling, the pair didn't enjoy the best of starts on the annual Darlington & District Motor Club event and were relieved when the opening stage was cancelled due to a timing malfunction. SS2 saw them get into their stride despite the damp conditions and by the halfway point, had climbed inside the top twenty.

SS5 was subsequently cancelled also, and once again luck prevailed as Anderson and Thirling lost time but made amends on the sixth stage as they hoisted themselves to 16th overall, despite being held up by slower cars.

As dusk started to fall, they dropped a little time on the penultimate stage but a brilliant effort in the darkness of the final 4.5 mile stage elevated Anderson to 15th place overall and with it fifth in class as just four seconds covered Chris and the other four cars in front.

Chris said: "We had a new engine built before the Christmas Stages and it produces a lot more horsepower but in those icy conditions, we struggled a lot. The Jack Frost Stages was a lot wetter than I'd have liked, and the chicanes were very, very tight but we had a good run and am delighted to finish in 15th. It would have been a bit higher had we not caught some cars at inopportune places but it's the same for everyone and I'm satisfied with our performance."

Anderson and Thirling's next planned outing is at Ingliston in Scotland on 26th March.

Picture attached courtesy of Ian Hardy, www.ianhardy.net.