It was not the start to a rally which John Lloyd and Pauline Gullick wanted when on the very first stage of the Somerset Stages Rally they came across Mick O'Brien's co-driver holding up the SOS board. The Focus WRC crew needed additional fire extinguishers to put out the fire in their engine. Lloyd lost over 5 minutes stopped at the incident assisting his fellow competitors giving them the two hand held extinguishers carried in his Focus. Unsure of their position on the event Lloyd continued fully aware that they would not be able to recover this lost time on the longest stage of the rally.
This event using the forests of Exmoor, based in Minehead qualified for the BTRDA Rally Championship and attracted over 100 entries to the start line on Saturday 21st April.
The organisers were grateful that the Jardine Lloyd Thompson supported Focus WRC had stopped and gave the crew a notional time for the stage. Lloyd and Gullick were very relieved with this decision as they were then back in the rally. A very appreciative Mick O'Brien also thanked Lloyd later in the day as Lloyd's extinguishers had put out the fire.
"It has been an interesting day with stages in the forests of Exmoor and two runs up the Porlock Toll Road. I have not enjoyed tarmac events for some time, Porlock made me realise how good tarmac can be. The first run was fantastic the second run was even more enjoyable. A great place for spectators to view the cars coming up the hill and the weather certainly attracted great crowds. This was our first time to Somerset Stages, it was a good, friendly event and I am sure we will return. I was very pleased to finish fourth overall, winning our class and mixed crew award after a very hot, dusty day's rallying," said John Lloyd at the finish in Minehead on Saturday afternoon.
The event was won by Andy Burton who has won the event for the past seven years driving his Peugeot Cosworth.
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