Jones scores sensational second on Super 2000 tarmac debut
Lico Wheels backed Stuart Jones made history by becoming the first person in the new generation MG Super 2000 to set fastest stage times in the British Rally Championship as the 23 year old put in a storming drive to snatch second position on the very last stage of an action packed Jim Clark International Rally. Stuart is also the first person since Tony Pond in an MG 6r4 in 1986 to score a British Championship fastest stage time in an MG!

Stuart, along with co-driver Andy Bull, approached the opening loop of stages cautiously as a lack of budget had prevented a pre event test and the first time Stuart was able to drive the car on tarmac in anger had been at shakedown on Thursday night. The first loop of stages saw Stuart drop time as he was not 100% confident with the setup. At first service the MSD team made some changes to the setup which transformed the car as the young Welshman was immediately on the pace of the front runners.

With the car now working to his liking Stuart put in the kind of performance that won him the Peugeot 206 super cup a few years ago and saw him take two fastest stage times as he clawed his way back up the leaderboard to end day one of the 2008 Jim Clark International Rally third overall in the British Championship standings and a tantalising 24 seconds behind former champion David Higgins.

Stuart began to hunt David down on the opening stage on a cool and breezy, but dry, Sunday morning, taking one second out of him. Another two seconds were deducted from the deficit on the next stage and a further three seconds on the stage before the mid day service halt. A repeat of Stage 14 saw Stuart post his best time of the weekend taking the stage win by 5.3 seconds but more importantly closing the deficit to Higgins to just 8.9 seconds. Stuart commenting I’m now starting to really understand how to get the best out of such an awesome car.

Then, as he neared the end of the final stage he caught a glimpse of David Higgins ahead of him. Higgins had suffered transmission problems, and Stuart would eventually overall haul him with a time that was over 50 seconds quicker, thus taking second overall and equalling his best ever British Championship result!

Wow, what a weekend. David and I had a great battle on Sunday morning and to be honest I would have been happy with third, it just felt so good to be on the pace of the Group N cars. This is such a fast rally that we had expected to struggle to keep up here, especially with no testing, so to take second overall is fantastic, and is a massive tribute to MSD to produce such a competitive and reliable car straight out of the box. I also hit a rock yesterday afternoon and was very impressed with the strength of the new Lico wheels as I did not suffer a puncture.

Stuart and Andy, who are backed by Lico wheels, Arcasting, PIAA, Rallytech, Teng Tools, Motorsport Insurance Service and Dacha Oak Products, will next be out in action on the Isle of Man International Rally, which takes place from 17th to 19th July.

For more on the MG Super 2000 please visit www.msd-world.com
Photographs © Geoff Mayes Media 2008
 





JIM CLARK RALLY 2008
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
STUART JONES/ANDY BULL
MG S2000

Video footage courtesy of
MC Videos & Geoff Mayes Media
Jones satisfied with sixth on punishing Pirelli

23 year old Welshpool rallying ace Stuart Jones was more than happy with sixth overall and third in class on last weekends Carlisle based Pirelli International Rally, his British Rally Championship debut of the new Lico backed MG Super 2000.

Stuart and his co-driver Andy Bull were making a welcome return to the premier division of British Rallying after a year away contesting the Production World Rally Championship and although he had only ever tackled the Pirelli Rally once before, in 2006, Stuart was confident of a good run.

Friday night featured 4 slippery stages in the Kershope forests north of Carlisle and with the rally being identical to last year’s event, one which Stuart had missed, the young rally driver knew that he had an immediate disadvantage. Although he had contested the Red Dragon Rally as a warm up two weeks ago, Stuart had not been in active competition since Wales Rally GB at the end of November last year. A cautious start to the rally saw young Jones only 13th fastest through the opening stage. But with confidence building he upped his pace and showing a remarkable level of consistency was seventh fastest on each of the next three stages to end the opening leg in seventh position.

Overnight changes to the car helped balance the handling and Stuart was able to comfortably increase his pace. After a run of top 6 times all morning more changes at the mid morning halt brought another improvement in form. Fourth fastest overall on Stage 10 was immediately followed by third fastest on the very next stage. By now the MSD run MG Super 2000, which is backed by PIAA, Rallytech, Teng Tools, Motorsport Insurance Service and Dacha Oak Products, was up to sixth position, but with three stages still to go a mature headed Stuart had his eye on a finish, rather than heroics. Maintaining a constant rhythm through the final loop of stages Stuart and Andy successfully fulfilled their main aim, a solid finish well inside the points on the opening round with the new car.

Although sixth position is a really good result for a car so early in its development the positive thing is that I feel there is so much more to come. I’m still adapting my driving style to suit the MG and at each service we are making small changes which are moving us forward. I must give a big mention to Matt Beebe who helped us out when we broke our recce car on Friday morning. Without his help we would have really had problems!

MSD and Stuart will now begin developing the tarmac set up ahead of the first tarmac rally of the year, the Kelso based Jim Clark International Rally, which starts on May 23rd.

For more on Lico Products please visit www.licowheels.com
For more on Stuart Jones please visit www.stuartjonesrallying.com
For more on the MG Super 2000 please visit www.msd-world.com
Photographs © Geoff Mayes Media 2008