Endurance Road Rally Championship 2009

Jamie Turner and Dan Harrison bounced back with vengance to take outright victory in the second round of the Endurance Road Rally Championship. Dan who was lost for words during his victory speech 'popped his cherry', with his first win in the left hand seat. For Jamie it was a welcome return to the top of the podium and eight years after winning the East Anglian Classic he'll once again get his name engraved on the Britvic trophy.

46 crews travelled to East Anglia for different route consisting of airfields, farm tracks and forests. Woodbridge was a huge success as was the Top gear test track at Bentwaters. Only four crews retired three with gerbox problems and Rob Reynolds / John Stringer disappeared after hitting a kerb.

Turner and Harrison took an early lead and were never caught despite the best intentions of those behind. Brother Owen navigated by Andrew Dadswell had an early set-back after being given a wrong test penalty which would see them drop to 12th by the afternoon halt.

In second was the Peugoet 106 crew of Ian Mepham and Samm Keeley who astounded many with their sudden rise up the rankings seeing as they hadn't competed for a while, there was a little inside knowledge as they've competed on the stage rally at Woodbridge and even though their not registered for the championship that shouldn't detract from an outstanding result and plenty of smiles and the finish venue.

Dale Glover and David Peters put the disappointment of the Audi south west behind them and kept a good pace despite irregular handling in their Nova caused by tyre wear on the hard tarmac venues.

Reigning leader Phil Harris and James 'Vomit Boy' Aldridge made the seven hudnred mile round trip pay to their advantage gaining some much deserved championship points despite the conditions being against their Daihatsu Sirion. The best part of the journey was James sleeping from Ipswich to Stonehendge not moving one iota as he recovered from the 'adults' leading him astray in the bar the previous night.

Third to ninth places ended up being covered by a minute overall with the likes of Dave and Mick Town and Ben and Mike Dawson getting into the top ten and showing that by the end of the year they'll be the new breed of endurance ralliers and surely banging on the door of the top three.

The much anticipated forest run was shorter than printed after serious behind the scenes problems leading up to the event which nearly saw the whole night leg being scrubbed. undeterred, special thanks must go to the liaison team who worked into the night to get what they could. The 'green' nature of the roads meant they were extremely slippy with competitors mostly driving to the finish at this point.

Alf Chanter navigating in Gary White's Peugeot has written a few anecdotes about his weekend away in East Anglia: GO HERE

For a full set of results: GO HERE

46 starters / 42 finishers

1 4440 Jamie Turner / Dan Harrison Rover 200 1.4i
2 4576 Ian Mepham / Samm Keeley Peugeot 106 Rallye
3 4602 Owen Turner / Andrew Dadswell Rover 200
4 4604 Dale Glover / David Peters Vauxhall Nova SRI
5 4631 Phil Harris / James Aldridge Daihatsu Sirion
6 4642 Dave Smith / Mike Turner Rover 214
7 4653 Andrew Lees Dolphin / Simon Lassam Vauxhall Nova
8 4679 Dave Town / Mick Town Rover 214
9 4681 Ben Dawson / Mike Dawson Rover 214
10 4738 Richard McLachlan / Eddie Clough Rover 200