Tom shows class with outstanding performance on Wales Rally GB
After setting four fastest stage times and regularly posting top three times within fractions of a second from that of the factory-supported drivers, Tom Cave’s performance on this year’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB underlined his true potential as a front-runner in the international RC2 category of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Having concluded a deal to drive a Philip Case Rally Sport prepared Hyundai i20 R5 and attracting support from a variety of backers a few weeks before the UK’s round of the WRC, Tom carried out a short but successful test on the Monday before the event. Even without much seat time under his belt, the 26-year old from Aberdovey and co-driver James Morgan from Hirwaun were matching the pace of the top seeded crews from the word go.
Following a short spectator stage near Rhyl on Thursday evening, they went on to set the second-fastest RC2 time on the first two of Friday’s eight stages in the North Wales forests. However, a puncture in SS4 slowed Tom a little and, having used the one and only spare wheel, he was wisely cautious through the morning’s remaining pair of stages held in a slate mine where the flint shards on the edges of the road could have easily caused another tyre-related issue.
Having completed the afternoon’s three forest stages that were a repeat of the morning’s trio, Tom and James pulled into the Deeside service area for the overnight halt fourth in class and impressively, lying 13th overall amongst the works-assisted crews.
The second full day of the rally took teams to Mid and North West Wales for a series of stages that were more familiar to the Welsh pair and, in SS11 – a 20km run through Sweet Lamb and Hafren – they claimed their first RC2 stage win. But then, on the very next stage Dyfi, a slide to the edge of the road on a fast left-hander resulted in getting caught on a tree stump.
With help from a group of spectators they managed to get the car back on the stage, although with over ten minutes lost the chance of a podium finish was now out of the question. Therefore, Tom’s strategy changed and instead of targeting a top overall result, he and James would aim to show what they could do by setting as many top stage times as possible. With only minor cosmetic damage to the rear of the Hyundai, the afternoon saw them go on to achieve their quest by setting another two fastest RC2 times before the overnight halt.
The PCRS team made the most of the limited service time available and consequently, returned the car to 100%. Then, on Sunday’s opening stage, Tom repaid their efforts by setting the quickest time by a clear three seconds ahead of class leader Kalle Rovanpera in a Skoda. It was an impressive performance, bearing in mind it was only a 10km run!
Another top-three time on the 15km Power Stage followed, but when he and James went to swap the wheels from front-to-back before the circumnavigation of the Great Orme at Llandudno, they noticed oil on and around the sump guard. Taking into account their position in the rally, they decided to retire from the event rather than risk any significant mechanical damage.
Whilst it wasn’t the ideal outcome they were hoping for, Tom, James and the rest of the team were extremely satisfied with the way they had represented themselves and their sponsors on the event. Consequently, they came away from the rally in the knowledge that given the opportunity, they can be competitive at international RC2 level.
“It’s a strange feeling, as this is the first time I’ve retired from an event but still feel upbeat about what’s just happened”, explained Tom. “Yes of course, it would have been great to stand on the podium and receive the accolade a top three position brings with it, but I believe our times showed what we can do, even against the full-time drivers and factory-supported operations.
“For us, this event has represented a great team effort and I really must thank everyone involved: PCRS for providing us with a car that ran perfectly throughout the event, which is a fantastic achievement. Also DMACK for supplying tyres that worked exceptionally well in the conditions and helped us to set the times that we did.
“We could not have entered the rally without the invaluable help of our sponsors: Trailhead Beef Jerky, who not only backed us in order to launch its new snack, but provided all of the event’s 2000+ volunteer marshals with a complimentary pack of products. Further support came from DMACK, Intervino, H N Nuttals Foodservice, Humphreys & Foulkes of Newtown, Atech Racing, Walero, Speedline Corse and Cave Equine, to whom we are most grateful.
“I must also thank our supporters and followers, be it at the side of the stage cheering us on or keeping up to date with our progress on social media. We hope you enjoyed watching!”
Tom and his team are currently working on plans for 2019 and hope to make an announcement soon.
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Tom ready, set and raring to go!
Following a successful test in South Wales on Monday, Tom Cave says he feels ready for his biggest challenge of the year, the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB – Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship – that takes place this week.
Monday’s test saw the 26-year old from Aberdovey back behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 R5 for the first time since finishing third in the WRC2 category on the Neste Rally Finland in July last year. It didn’t take long for Tom to re-acclimatise himself to the car and, with just a few tweaks made by the Philip Case Rally Sport crew, he was quickly up to competitive pace.
“It was great to back in a Hyundai again”, said Tom. “The one I’m using on Rally GB is a 2018 model and it felt even better than the cars I drove last year in the British Rally Championship and Finland. I was very happy with the test. I came away feeling comfortable in the car and confident we can fight for class honours.”
In addition to setting up the car, Monday was also an opportunity for Tom to take some of his sponsors for a passenger ride they’ll never forget! In the warm autumn sunshine, guests were treated to a high speed run through the test stage and by the look on their faces when they got out of the car, without exception all of them said they were thrilled by the experience.
“It was great to be able to offer our sponsors the opportunity to sit alongside and find out what it’s like to drive through a forest stage at speed. Many of them had never been in a rally car before and to say that they were blown away I think would be an understatement. Events like this are so important, as the support from these companies and individuals has enabled me to take part in this year’s Wales Rally GB – and for that, I’m extremely grateful.
“Because I haven’t entered as many rallies as I would normally this year, it would be fair to say that I’m looking forward to this event more than ever. Living in north Wales, I feel at home on the stages; the car feels great and James (co-driver) and I are as ready as we can be. I can’t wait to get started!”
The Dayinsure Wales Rally GB gets underway on Thursday (4th October) evening from the Deeside service park, before the Visit Conwy Tir Prince spectator stage near Rhyl. Friday features eight stages in north Wales, with Saturday comprising a further nine in north and mid Wales, one of which runs just a few miles from where Tom lives.
Sunday is the final day, when the route heads back to north Wales for four stages in forests directly south of Llandudno followed by the the fifth and final stage around the Great Orme headland with the flying finish along the sea front.
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Tom confirms Wales Rally GB entry
Welsh driver Tom Cave is pleased to announce that he has entered this year’s Wales Rally GB, which takes place from 4th – 7th October. He will drive a PCRS run Hyundai i20 R5 and will be partnered by his regular co-driver James Morgan.
Tom from Aberdovey and James from Hirwaun enjoyed a busy season in 2017, when they gave the Hyundai 120 R5 its British Rally Championship debut and then went on to finish third in WRC2 on Rally Finland. They then repeated the result on Wales Rally GB driving a Fiesta R5.
In contrast, 2018 has seen a far quieter season for the Welsh pair. In addition to an outing early in the year driving his own Subaru, Tom entered July’s Nicky Grist Stages, when he and James impressed with a front-running performance in a Spencer Sport R5 specification Mitsubishi Mirage.
Eager to get back onto the world stage, Tom has since focused his attentions on securing an entry in Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Thanks to support from DMack tyres, Trailhead Fine Foods, Pre-eminent Solutions, H.N. Nuttall Foodservice, Cave Equine, Atech, Walero and Philip Case Rally Sport – who will supply and run the car – he has been able to enter the event.
“With Wales Rally GB my home round of the WRC and after James and I finished on the WRC2 podium last year, I’m extremely pleased that everything has come together in time for us to enter this year’s event and I have to thank everyone involved for their invaluable support.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tom competing on a World Championship rally and my ninth time contesting the Wales Rally GB, which makes this year’s entry even more significant.
“It’s great to be back in a Hyundai i20 R5. The last time I drove the car was in Rally Finland last year and we finished third in WRC2. The Hyundai really suits my driving style, so I’m hoping with a latest-specification model and the previous results behind me, James and I can be even more competitive this year.”
Trailhead Fine Foods are using Tom’s Wales Rally GB campaign to launch its new Get Jerky snack. Furthermore, the company will be providing all of the event’s 2000+ marshals with a complementary pack containing its brand new product. Samples will be available from the Wales Rally GB office located in the Deeside service park.
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Impressive performance in Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage on Nicky Grist Stages sees Tom back on the pace from the word go
Tom Cave and James Morgan showed they had lost none of their former pace, when they recorded the fastest time on the first of eight stages on Saturday’s (14th July) Nicky Grist Stages Rally. Following a day long battle for the lead, they went on to cross the line in second place. But having reached the finish, their convincing podium position was denied when, due to an admin oversight by the co-driver, the Welsh pair were disqualified for infringing an event regulation.
After a successful test in the Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage last week, Tom was more than ready to make his return to the stages in a R5 specification car following a nine-month sabbatical since he and James finished third in the WRC2 category in October’s Wales Rally GB.
Saturday’s event featured a loop of four stages on the gravel roads on and around the Epynt Military Ranges in the morning, followed by the same loop of four in the afternoon. Seeded at number one, things started perfectly for Tom and James. In the dry and dusty conditions, they set the fastest time on the opening stage and consequently led the rally by two seconds, ahead of current British Rally Championship leaders Matt Edwards and Darren Garrod in a Fiesta R5.
During the following three stages before the lunch time service halt at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Tom and James delivered another first and two second-fastest times, which enabled them to maintain their lead by two seconds at the half-way point. Following a quick check around the car by the Spencer Sport team, they embarked on the afternoon’s four stages and, like the weather, the battle between them and their main rivals got even hotter.
In fact, on stage five both crews set exactly the same time, four seconds faster than anyone else. Still with a two-second advantage, Tom knew it would be flat to the finish and, although he and James pushed as hard as they could through the remaining three stages, they could not hold off Edwards/Garrod who fought back to take the win.
But on returning to Builth Wells, unknowingly Tom and James found that they had contravened an event regulation due to a rare co-driver error and were consequently disqualified from the results. Although a conclusion they and the team would not have wished for, Tom and James were pleased they had been able to get straight back to a front-running pace. The team were also happy that the stage times clearly proved the Mitsubishi Mirage was a match for any other R5 class car.
“Whilst the final outcome was of course, not what we had wanted, rallying is a complicated sport with lots of rules and regulations, so these things can and do happen”, said Tom at the finish.
“It was great to be back in an R5 specification car alongside James who did his usual great job on the notes. And to be straight back on the pace right from the start was very reassuring to us both.
“The Mirage has really progressed into a competitive car and the stage times prove it. It’s great to drive and I hope I have the opportunity to enter another event with it soon.
“I have to thank everyone involved who made this event happen for us: Spencer Sport, Spencer ECA, DMACK Tyres, Nicky Grist Motorsport, Walero Racewear, Atech Racing and the team’s sponsors: Oil for Wales, Speedline Wheels, Motul Lubricants and Sea & Slate.”
Further news about Tom’s next event will be announced soon.
ENDS
Photo: JMS Photographic
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Tom Cave to drive Spencer Sport Mirage on Nicky Grist Stages, seeded #1
Tom Cave and co-driver James Morgan have been announced as the number one seeds for this Saturday’s (14th July) Nicky Grist Stages Rally, when they will compete in an R5 specification Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage.
The event will see the Welsh pair back in action for the first time since last October’s Wales Rally GB, when they finished an impressive third in the WRC2 category driving a Fiesta R5. With 2018 year of consolidation for Tom, he is relishing a return to the hot seat:
“As plans didn’t quite come together in time for the start of the season, I’m only intending to enter a few rallies in 2018. I’m therefore grateful to Spencer Sport for giving me an opportunity to get back out there and keep my hand in. Of course, I’ve worked with Spencer Sport before when we finished second in the British Rally Championship in 2016. It was a great team effort. Having led the event at one point, we also finished second on the Nicky Grist Stages in that year behind Elfyn Evans.”
Tom is mindful that with a 120-strong field, a number of previous event winners and crews in WRC cars taking part, it’s not going to be easy to score a top result and says he will have a better idea of what’s in store after he has tested the Mitsubishi on Thursday (12th July):
“I’ve driven the Mirage before but only in testing, so it’s great to now have the chance to compete in it too. I know there’s been a number of upgrades since I drove it last, so I’m looking forward to finding out what it’s like now, especially on a rally like the Nicky Grist Stages.”
The event represents round six of the BTRDA Rally Series and gets underway at 09.00 on Saturday from the centre of Builth Wells. The route incorporates the gravel roads and forests around the Epynt military ranges on the Brecon Beacons and features a loop of four timed special stages in the morning followed by a repeat run in the afternoon.
Tom’s Nicky Grist Stages outing is supported by: Spencer Sport, Spencer ECA, Nicky Grist Motorsport, DMack Tyres, Walero and Atech.
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