TINDALL IMPRESSES IN THE NORTH WEST
MALCOLM WILSON RALLY
14TH MARCH 2020
Ewan's first experience on the North West's forest stages would come on the Malcolm Wilson Rally, it would also be his second gravel event in the R2 car. After some challenges on the opening round in Wales, the team was hoping for a trouble free run allowing lots of learning with the new car. The rally used some classic stages in the Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter forests, many places to catch a driver out especially with changing weather conditions.
A slightly disappointed Ewan set out with a point to prove after being seeded last R2 car at 46, despite holding onto a podium place on his last outing until a last stage puncture. A few changes to the set up of the car before heading to the stages meant Ewan was ready to give it a good go.
The rally started out well for Tindall and Roughead with 2 fastest R2 times out of 2 stages, putting them into 23rd overall. Stage conditions were tricky with patches of fog throughout the stages, with many drivers being caught out. Ewan's morning work continued positively with two more good stages to maintain the lead in class and hold onto 23rd overall. A quick turnaround in service after a check over and the crew headed back out to the stages, this time in the infamous Grizedale forest for 2 long stages back to back.
Grizedale Forest is known for long twisty technical stages, corner after corner and has a habit of catching drivers out. A comfortable run for Ewan over both Grizedale stages meant a move up to 19th overall and extending the R2 class lead with one stage to go.
A clean run through the final stage in Greystoke in forest just wasnt enough for the crew to take the R2 Cup win after being pipped on the last stage by a new R2T 19 car with a vast amount more power, which wasnt helped by the long straights throughout the stage. Non the less an excellent result to take 2nd in class and 22nd overall. This result moves Ewan and Andrew into the lead of the BTRDA R2 Cup, BTRDA Juniors, MRF mixed surface and 2nd in BTRDA silver star.
Ewan Tindall - 'It has been a great rally for me, it was important to get some mileage under our belts after the challenges last time out. Slightly disheartening to be leading all day to just miss out on the last stage but I did everything I could. Solid points on the first two rounds mean we leave leading the R2 cup championship'