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Sensational top 3 finish for
Nutter and Taylor in the DNFUCRT
Although the David Nutter Ford Used Car Rally Team did not compete in the first VRC round for 2007 (the Cerberus Stages), they battled their way to a gallant 3rd outright in the 2nd round; the East Gippsland Stages (EGS). The EGS was a new addition to the VRC, 2007 being the first year it has been run. The EGS, which started in the main street of Bairnsdale on the morning of Saturday the 5th of May, was a very successful one that all competitors look forward to competing in the coming years.
The weekend saw perfect sunny weather all weekend, which made a nice change to have an event run under dry conditions, compared to many events of the 2006 VRC season that were shortened and/or cancelled due to ill weather. Although one stage (run once each way) was downgraded to liaison due to continuing wetness, the event on the whole ran very smoothly with only 6 of the 39 entrants not finishing the event.
The first stage was a short 6 kilometre stage held north of Bairnsdale. The following three stages saw some brilliant performances by David and Cat, with some very competitive times. Winning stage 4 outright gave David and Cat a big confidence boost, allowing them to clasp on to equal 3rd position going in to the 2 hour twilight service at the Nowa Nowa pony club grounds. The top 6 cars were only separated by 18 seconds at the break, so there was a very close battle going into the final night time leg.
The last three night stages consisted of stages 2, 3 and 4 run in reverse. The dust during the night stages was a big challenge for all competitors. The first position on the road held by Justin Dowell and Matt Lee allowed clearer vision throughout the stages, which provided them with an advantage over the rest of the field. The dust gap saw them win the event, finishing almost a minute ahead of second place.
There was a tense fight for second position in the evening stages between David and Cat and Mark Fawcett and Simon Ellis in car 3. David leaped out of the gate after the service break coming second outright and pitting Fawcett by 5 seconds, however Fawcett fought back with an 11 second deficit in the next stage. Although David beat Fawcett by 2 seconds on the final stage, it was not enough to get the team over the line; Fawcett scraped over the line by a mere 4 seconds overall.
Once again, the DNFUC (David Nutter Ford Used Cars) rally car was prepared to the highest of standards in the DNFUC workshop before the event and the car performed faultlessly. The team were elated to finish 3rd outright for the event, and look forward to showing more great performances in the upcoming events. Unfortunately, the DNFUC team will not be participating in the Bega Valley Motors Rally, the 3rd round of the VRC on the 10th of June. However, they will be travelling across to South Australia to take part in the 2nd round of the South Australian Championship, and the 4th round of the Australian Rally Championship, on the weekend of 5-6th August.
Upcoming Events:
10th June: Bega Valley Motors Rally; Bega, NSW (VRC 3-Not competing)
21st July: George Derrick Memorial Rally; Erica and Heyfield (VRC 4)
14th October: Akademos; Alexandra (VRC 5)
10th-11th November: Rally of Melbourne; Healesville and Yarra Valley (VRC 5 & 6)
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