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Michael Igoe wins Brands Hatch Winter Stages as revised rally layout has ‘pluses and minuses’

Former sportscar racer Michael Igoe produced a mistake-free drive on a revised route to secure back-to-back Brands Hatch Winter Stages victories.

The Citroen C3 Rally2 campaigner, co-driven by Will Atkins, led Saturday’s event from start to finish for the second successive season to beat Barry Morris/Tom Hutchings (Darrian T90 GTR+) by 19 seconds.

Michael Igoe and Will Atkins led the Brands Hatch Winter Stages from start to finish, winning by 19 seconds
Michael Igoe and Will Atkins led the Brands Hatch Winter Stages from start to finish, winning by 19 seconds

Cheshire-based Igoe said the eight tarmac-only stages - which did not include the circuit’s rally school section or outer paddock - had “pluses and minuses”.

Event organisers Chelmsford Motor Club aimed to offer a “fresh challenge” to competitors this year, including a new stage start location at Pilgrims Drop.

But plans for a competitive link section between the rally school and Grand Prix loop were dropped after circuit owner MSV raised concerns over road conditions and limited access to the Southbank spectator area.

Igoe, a former British GT race winner with Lamborghini, said the rally was still a “good event all round”.

“It's a shame to miss out all of the section through the paddock, but the rally school's slippery, you don't get much momentum in there, so I didn't massively miss that bit,” he said.

A new stage start was used at Pilgrims Drop on the Grand Prix loop
A new stage start was used at Pilgrims Drop on the Grand Prix loop

“There was quite a bit less mileage than previously, but it's been a great layout, and I think it's run really well.

“We went out of the blocks with a good, clean drive and we just kept it clean all day with no mistakes.”

Igoe, who made his rally debut at Brands Hatch in 2023 aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally2, was pleased with the set-up of his Citroen, which he had taken to victory in the same event 12 months ago.

He was beaten by Morris on Saturday’s second stage, but won every other test in the event, which formed a round of the Protyre Circuit Rally Championship.

“We had a couple of mechanical and set-up issues at the back end of last year, but we seem to have got on top of them now,” Igoe said.

Igoe and Atkins repeated their 2024 success in their Citroen C3 Rally 2; the service area moved to the outer paddock as part of the layout changes
Igoe and Atkins repeated their 2024 success in their Citroen C3 Rally 2; the service area moved to the outer paddock as part of the layout changes
The new layout included part of the old rallycross circuit off Cooper Straight
The new layout included part of the old rallycross circuit off Cooper Straight

“We made the right calls on tyres and damper settings and it was our day today.”

Igoe last raced in British GT in 2022, and is now enjoying the compact nature of single-venue rallies.

“There is a lot of seat time,” said the Knutsford driver, who won the championship last season.

“I know it's in shorter spells, but it’s rewarding and you don’t go home in the early hours of Monday morning after an event.

“When I was racing, I'd be coming down here on Thursday night to test on Friday for an hour or two before the weekend.

The event attracted 80 starters
The event attracted 80 starters
Faversham's Richard Weatherley finished seventh overall in his EDSL Sport-run Citroen C3 Rally 2
Faversham's Richard Weatherley finished seventh overall in his EDSL Sport-run Citroen C3 Rally 2

“It's nice that I've had the opportunity to do both, but the reward out of racing wasn't as big as in rally.”

Igoe and Morris were joined on the podium by championship leaders John Stone/Alex Stone (VW Polo GTI R5), while Faversham’s Richard Weatherley, driving a similar Citroen C3 Rally2 to the event winner, took seventh.

The BMCRC Club Bike Championships will start the circuit racing season at Brands Hatch on March 15-16.

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