Photography by JCCB Rally Photography
Ifan Devine and Luke Constantine were forced to retire from the East Riding Stages when their car slid off the road and into a ditch.
Although there was no damage to the Opel Adam R2, there were no spectators nearby to help them get back onto the road.
“It was very frustrating, as it was the first stage of the day on Sunday and we were going well,” explained Ifan, who is the current John Easson Award winner.
“We were lying four seconds off the class lead after the opening Saturday night stages, so it was looking very promising. But we dropped a wheel onto the grass and it dragged us into the ditch. Nine times out of ten we’d have got away with it.”
With no spectators around, the pair had no choice but to sit out the morning and wait for the lunch halt to get help. Although no rescue vehicle available, help arrived in the shape of photographers John Conway and Chris Baines, from JCCB Photography, who used John’s Audi Q5 to tow the Opel out of the ditch.
“We were very glad to help Luke and Ifan out, and it enabled them to get back to service and take part in the afternoon loop,” said John.
Using their own pace notes for the first time, Luke and Ifan had the satisfaction of setting class-leading times on the afternoon stages, as Ifan explained.
“We were slightly nervous about using our own notes, but we soon got into our stride. By the end of the rally, there was a real increase in our pace as Luke felt able to commit himself more in the corners.
“Retiring is always disappointing, but it’s tempered by the many positives that have come out of the weekend. We can’t wait to be back out on the new Yorkshire Dales Rally next month.”
