By John Kenny.
Keith Cronin and Barry McNulty took victory in the opening round of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship this weekend, the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales.
The reigning British Rally Champion have a 100% record of victory in the event having won in Wales last year and become the first of the Pirelli Star Driver winners to take outright event honours.
Their victory in the Impreza, coupled with a great fourth place from Pirelli TEG Sport team-mates Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton, means that the Lancashire based outfit also start the season in an excellent position to defend their British Teams Rally Championship title.
The expected charge from last year’s Fiesta Sport Trophy Champions Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts failed to materialise after the youngster’s Fiesta S2000 stopped after two stages.
Gwyndaf Evans and Chris Patterson also failed to make it back to the first service with transmission problems, leaving Alastair Fisher and Rory Kennedy to take over second spot.
But the County Tyrone driver’s excellent drive was also cut short near the end of the day when differential failure led to a blown clutch and retirement.
After a perfect build up to the season, winning the Border Counties Rally, Dave Weston Junior and Iwan Thomas held their nerve to eventually take the runners-up spot, their Ramsport Impreza running faultlessly throughout the 100 mile event.
Third place went to Adam Gould and Craig Drew in an ex-Higgins Impreza.
