Tuthill in Rally North Wales

As reported in our April issue, Richard Tuthill returned to the rally driver’s seat, announcing that he will be participating in this year’s British Historic Rally Championship, beginning with the Rally North Wales on 25 March.  Though he has had outings with his own Below Zero Ice Driving team across the winter season, this was to be Richard’s first competitive event since 2014 and his first historic event in over a decade. 

Back in the saddle: Tuthill could have been competing with Roger Chillman for overall honours but for a mistake on the first stage

After a day of practice in the Porsche 911 SC, the rally started in Welshpool with a field of 95 competitors across 22 categories.  By the halfway mark Richard was elated to have secured two fastest stage times on Stages 2 and 4, but admitted that Stage 3 was a bit messy due to him being “rusty”.  The crew could easily have been in the running for the overall victory, but in an opening stage “silly mistake”, Tuthill and co-driver Stephane Prevot beached themselves at a chicane.  By the end of the day however, the Porsche specialist had managed four fastest stage times and a second fastest time, out of the seven stages on offer, to claim second place in his category, only two seconds off the Category winners by the end of the day.  Way to go Richard!

Photo Russ Otway

Overall rally winners were Roger Chilman Jr. and Patrick Walsh, driving a Ford Escort 1800, making it two wins out of two rounds so far this season in the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship.  Behind the winner, there was a tooth-and-nail battle for the remaining podium spots with Nick Elliott and Dave Price recording their best result this year with second place in their FIAT 131 Abarth and BHRC returnees Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke stealing third on the final stage in their MKII Escort, with Escorts taking the next 17 places!