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 Mann wins Kumho-backed rally championship - on Kumho tyres!
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The recent Bulldog Rally saw David Mann and co-driver Alun Cook fulfil a lifetime ambition by becoming the 2003 Kumho National Rally Champions, a great result for them and for the championship, as they achieved their victory using Kumho rally tyres.
 By
finishing a calculated sixth in the final round of the series, Mann
secured enough points to claim the Kumho title, having started the
event with a nine point advantage over Brendan Crealey. But with the
Ulsterman not entering, it was Roger Duckworth who posed the biggest
threat, starting 12 points behind Mann.
The Bulldog Rally began in Newtown and consisted of 75 competitive miles, split between eight stages in the mid and north Wales forests, with the finish in Shrewsbury.
For Mann the pressure was on. Having been all set to clinch the title on the previous round, a gearbox problem in his Subaru and a subsequent non-finish had meant the battle for the series continued and he knew he had to cross the line eleventh or higher on Saturday in order to be confirmed as Champion.
Fully aware of the task in hand, Mann and Cook adopted a cautious approach and let the others battle around them, albeit setting a pace which would keep them in the top ten. The plan worked and they never dropped below eighth all day, eventually crossing the finish ramp sixth overall. The result was more than good enough, as it provided them with an eight point advantage and the Kumho National Rally Championship crown.
"This is a title I've always wanted to win. I first competed in the championship in 1982 and although I've not contested it every year, it was always my ambition", said a delighted Mann at the finish.
"For me, the highlight of the season was my win on the Isle of Mann, again another ambition fulfilled. I have to thank my co-driver, Alun, the Bill Gwynne Motorsport team who prepare and run the Subaru and the support from Kumho Tyres."
Of the tyres Mann said: "Throughout the season the Kumho tyres never let me down. They dealt extremely well with all the conditions we encountered and performed superbly, both on gravel and asphalt. I'm pleased to have given Kumho its first UK National title as well."
Steve Thompson, Motorsport Manager for Kumho Tyres said:
"This is a significant victory for us. It shows that Kumho are more than a match for any other make of tyre and I am delighted that a car running on Kumho tyres has won the Championship we support."
The Bulldog Rally was won by last year's Kumho National Champion, Mark Perrott. The Escort WRC driver showed that his five month sabbatical from the sport had made no difference to his speed. Duckworth did all he could to keep his Kumho Championship hopes alive by finishing a strong second in his Subaru WRC.
In third place was Andy Burton. Following a serious tyre blow-out on the first stage, which tore a proportion of bodywork off the rear of his hybrid Peugeot Cosworth, he plummeted to a position of 31st overall. The charge back to the front of the field was nothing short of entertaining, as Burton proceeded to set six fastest times over the remaining seven stages. |
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