New navigator helps get Fiesta driver Laffey's bid back on course
HARBOROUGH'S Alex Laffey said he was happy with his progress in the Fiesta Sporting Challenge as the contest enterered its third round.
His team decided he would benefit from a navigator with more experience, which meant that in the co-driver's seat was a seasoned rally veteran in Peter Martin.
The move followed a costly navigational mistake in the previous round.
Laffey said: "After the Bulldog rally I really wanted to make an impression to people that I can keep on the pace of the frontrunners and that I could be a contender in the Fiesta Sporting Challenge this season."
Laffey went into this month's Pirelli rally, which was based in Carlisle, after preparations lasting more than a week.
He then modified his pace notes to make them as clear as possible. The conditions were dry and sunny, which couldn't have been better for the Fiesta crews.
The first stages took in an 11.5-mile stretch though the legendary Kielder Forest. After cutting a corner a little bit too soon and launching across the rocks on the inside of a tight bend, Laffey set the fourth fastest time, sitting only 22 seconds behind third-placed Richard Parry Jones.
Stage two saw Laffey again set the fourth fastest time and this consistent pace had him at third overall.
In the third stage Parry Jones passed Laffey – beating him by only one second through the very fast stages. The Harborough man moved down to fifth as a result but was only half a second behind fourth-placed Parry Jones.
An accident involving one of the leaders saw both Parry Jones and Laffey move up a place in stage four.
The fifth stage saw Laffey suffer with a bent rear beam, making the car very unstable on the long and fast 12-mile stage, yet he set a fifth fastest time, only 13 seconds behind Parry Jones.
But later on, after packing up the car, Laffey found that Parry Jones had picked up a 20-second penalty after being late into the last time control. This meant Laffey took fourth overall out of the Fiestas and also a creditable ninth overall in the BRC Challenge.
Laffey said: "I am really happy with my performance, as I am still on a learning curve and driving against some very experienced crews.
"I can't wait for the Jim Clark Challenge in Scotland at the end of May. I am hoping to improve my pace even more so I can challenge for a podium place at the next round and secure further points in the championship."
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Weather for Harborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
