[woodcote]

Event 4 - Modern WRC

For this second stage, the cars are running in reverse order - Event 4 through to Event 1 - and the car that went last on the Ninco starts the group on the ice.

Each car gets some warm-up laps to establish a rhythm - and then it's into the 5 lap timed run.

Here are a couple of action pics from the first group of modern WRC cars...

       

First to run was James' Subaru Impreza...

   

The big car was nice and smooth on the ice, but a little ponderous through the tight switch-back, clocking 16.22 seconds and no deslots.

   

Scott Sports' Renault Clio was smooth, nimble, but just a little tippy - it looked great going round the corner at the end of the straight on three wheels! Loads of fun and not a bad time of 14.15 seconds (0 deslots).

   

The silver Subaru of High Voltage was very quick round the rink, showing nice stability and flow. A time of 13.81 seconds (0 deslots) was the fastest so far.

   

BARacer's Citroën C4 was a bit unpredictable on acceleration and braking, making the warm-up laps rather hair-raising! However, once in a smooth rhythm, the first of the C4s stopped the clock at 13.68 seconds (0 deslots) to go top of the timing sheet.

   

Have I mentioned that I like this car? Always immense fun to throw around tight corners, the big Subaru is also quick -13.15 seconds (0 deslots) the best so far.

   

The Munchi's Ford Focus was good on the Ninco stage and SSRC's car also proved competitive on the ice. Although quite noisy, a 13.75 second run (0 deslots) was third quickest.

   

How would the standard Scalextric Subaru do? Team Alaric's Impreza was smooth, but not quite as punchy as the Ninco cars. The result - a very solid 14.15 seconds (0 deslots).

   

Mountain View's Hyundai i20 had a good 5 laps on the ice - stopping the clock at 14.18 seconds (0 deslots).

   

The second Citroën C4 saw Ruscillo Racing bang in a 14.25 second run (0 deslots) - just struggling a little through the tightest section of the track... something I've noticed with anglewinder cars.

   

Harrison Racers' Subaru was nice and smooth through the stage, clocking an identical 14.25 second time (0 deslots) to the previous car.

   

Last to go was the Bangers Racing Citroën Saxo. A joy to drive in the first stage, this was punchy, nimble and well-planted around the rink - not suffering the same issues with tipping as the Clio. A rapid run of 13.68 seconds (0 deslots) put the Saxo equal runner-up with BARacer's C4 in this group...

   

1. Woodcote Racing - Subaru Impreza - 13.15 seconds (0 deslots)
2. BARacer - Citroën C4 - 13.68 seconds (0 deslots)
= Bangers Racing - Citroën Saxo - 13.68 seconds (0 deslot)
4. SSRC - Ford Focus WRC - 13.75 seconds (0 deslots)
5. High Voltage - Subaru Impreza - 13.81 seconds (0 deslots)
6. Scott Sports - Renault Clio - 14.15 seconds (0 deslots)
=Team Alaric - Subaru Impreza - 14.15 seconds (0 deslots)
8. Mountain View - Hyundai i20 - 14.18 seconds (0 deslots)
9. Ruscillo Racing - Citroën C4 - 14.25 seconds (0 deslots)
= Harrisons Racers - Subaru Impreza - 14.25 seconds (0 deslots)
11. James WV - Subaru Impreza - 16.22 seconds (0 deslots)

Combining the times for the two stages gives us the Event result for the Brighton round...

   

1. Woodcote Racing - Subaru Impreza - 78.20 seconds
2. Scott Sports - Renault Clio - 80.96 seconds
3. Ruscillo Racing - Citroën C4 - 82.66 seconds
4. Team Alaric - Subaru Impreza - 83.08 seconds
5. SSRC - Ford Focus WRC - 83.48 seconds
6. Bangers Racing - Citroën Saxo - 84.45 seconds
7. James WV - Subaru Impreza - 87.27 seconds
8. Harrisons Racers - Subaru Impreza - 92.26 seconds
9. BARacer - Citroën C4 - 100. 72 seconds
10. Mountain View - Hyundai i20 - 101.66 seconds
11. High Voltage - Subaru Impreza - 102.21 seconds

That's the whole field covered by just 24.01 seconds - definitely the most consistent and competitive group of the four. Thanks to everyone for preparing and sending your modern WRC cars, they were a pleasure to drive!