Scottish Borders Hillrally – Video

Some video coverage of the Britpart Scottish Borders Hillrally.  MuddyMoo stars from about 2’17”

Press release – We are the champions – again!

Team Allmakes Friesian Racing are celebrating becoming the Super Production Champions of the Matador National Hillrally Championship for the third year in succession.

 

The team finished their year in fine style with a class win and a fastest stage time on the final stage of the recent Britpart Scottish Borders Hillrally.

 

With usual co-driver Sarah Suter unavailable for the last event of the year, driver Henry Webster swapped roles with his former driver Michael Bruce.  Henry spent seven year’s in the co-driver’s seat learning from Michael in his 1954 Series 1 Land Rover, ‘Nessie’!

 

“I’ve learnt a lot from Mike, and owe him a great deal!  But it’s definitely payback time!” said Friesian Racing’s driver Henry Webster, “This time its me behind the wheel and him bracing himself against the imaginary brake pedal!”

 

Typical November conditions of rain, wind and ice meant that the stages in the Newcastleton Forest complex which adjoins the notorious ‘Killer Kielder’ were very slippery and unpredictable.  Many competitors succumbed to the conditions and came off the road during the two day event, but the Friesian Racing duo made it to the end with little damage.

 

That is not to say the event was without incident for Henry and Michael.  A steady start on Saturday morning had them placed 19^th after the first two stages, but with a target of a top ten finish in mind and the treacherous conditions to contend with as well as the prospect of two night stages, the team were happy with progress.  

 

Henry’s previous night rallying experience paid off in the first of the two stages held in darkness by the end they had cracked the top ten and were climbing.  Then disaster struck on the final stage of the evening where they struck a rock in a quarry section which broke the steering drag link.  With no steering, a Herculean effort from co-driver Michael Bruce managed to manhandle the car the final kilometre to the end of the stage to gain them a finish and a chance to redeem themselves on day 2.

 

Although the Allmakes Friesian Racing Discovery (affectionately known as MuddyMoo) had dropped to 29^th position and second in class the crew knew that a class win was still a possibility.

 

Some spirited driving on day two saw the team claw their way back up to 20^th position and that coveted first in class by the end of the day.  Their final stage heralded their first fastest stage time – an impressive effort for a production car against the more specialist machinery that usually reside at the top of the table.

 

That was another challenging event,” said driver and team principal Henry Webster, “We certainly haven’t had it all our own way this year, but I am chuffed to bits to come away from the season with our third consecutive class championship win!”

 

“I hope the fastest stage time is a pointer the future too, we’ve proven when the conditions suit the car that we can challenge the best in Europe!”

 

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of the entire Friesian Racing herd, all of whom are volunteers and give up their spare time and holidays to help us out.  Allmakes support too has been vital.  Their expertise with Land Rover parts has been invaluable and the quality of their products has been proven by the reliability that we have achieved this year even in the toughest of conditions, like last weekend!”