Cruttenden has a rally bad weekend

Eventful rallying weekend for Newhey rally co driver, Joe Cruttenden

It was an eventful rallying weekend for Newhey rally co driver, Joe Cruttenden. On the Saturday he competed, with Blackburn based Mat Griffin, on the Somerset stages, starting in Minehead it was the second round of the BTRDA championship, which see the pair currently leading.

The event, eleven stages over the forests and tarmac roads of Exmoor. Started in very dry conditions, with dust causing problems with vision. “ We caught a competitor on the first stage and with all the dust not only were we unable to pass him, but we were unable to see where we were and I lost my place on the notes for one scary moment” said Cruttenden.

After the first 6 stages, the pair were lying in second place, which at the time was ok, no need to push as the crew in first place were not in the championship, therefore would not take the points. “We were happy with our pace” said Cruttenden “Then on stage 9 we hit a pot hole, breaking a ball joint. This effected the steering, and despite Matt’s best efforts to correct the steering, it launched us into the undergrowth, landing on a tree stump, bending the bottom arm and pulling out a drive shaft”

That was this rally over and the Yellow Lupo was recovered back on the trailer.

The Pair then drove overnight to compete in the Lee Holland Stages, Anglesey , where they were competing in a new Lupo, built and support for them by Rallyschooluk. “We are planning to contest the Tour of Mull in Oct, so we needed more Tarmac experience” said Cruttenden “ unfortunately we had a slight mishap with some tyres and reshaped the car slightly!” he added

Despite not finishing the Somerset rally, Cruttenden remains in first place in the BTRDA Rally First championship and a third in class saw him move into first place in this years Evopart.org Stage championship. His next rally is the Plains Rally in mid May.