By Paul Evans
Tom Cave underlined his status as a top 2019 British Rally Championship title contender by posting an impressive front-running performance on the opening round, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally. However, he was robbed of a great result after picking up three punctures in the final two stages.
Following a highly successful test earlier in the week, when the 27-year old driver from Aberdyfi drove the PCRS-prepared Hyundai i20 R5 on Michelin tyres for the first time, Cave was ready for the 10 stage event, held in the forests of North Wales.
Co-driven by Hirwaun’s Dale Bowen, Cave set the third fastest time on the opening stage, a performance that saw the Welsh pair just 3.2 seconds off early leaders David Bogie/John Rowan and 0.8 seconds from Matt Edwards/Patrick Walsh. Cave then went on to set equal fastest-time on SS2 and second fastest on SS3, which meant they held second place, just 5.2 seconds from Edwards/Walsh, when they booked in to the first service halt of the day in Llandudno.
With the onset of rain during the second loop of four stages, traction became even more of an issue. Even so, Cave continued to set top three times before booking into the second service halt, where the PCRS team fitted spot lamps and a set of softer-compound tyres for the final three-stage loop in the evening.
The night time encounter began well, with Cave beating leader Edwards by nearly two seconds through SS8. Despite being slowed by a puncture about a mile from the finish of SS9, Cave still held on to his second place, as he lined up to start the tenth and final stage.
However, just half a mile into the 4.81-mile run through Elsi forest, Cave suffered a second puncture, with the tyre losing all of its air immediately. Nevertheless, he managed to get the car to the end of the stage and even with the consequential loss of time, Cave was still in a valuable fifth placed point-scoring position.
But there was more frustration to come, when he picked up a third puncture on the final road section back to the finish control in Llandudno and, with no more spare wheels available, Cave was forced to retire with just a few road miles left to go.
“I just can’t believe that our rally ended that way,” said Cave. “I’ve never experienced three punctures in an event before – let alone in two stages. However, I’m really pleased with the way things went up until that point. Considering it was the first time in this car, my first event since October’s Wales Rally GB and Dale and I’s first rally together at this level, to be in with a shot of the lead and claim two fastest times, really sets the scene for the season ahead.
“We’ll now investigate what happened, take on board the positives – of which there were many – and regroup so that we’re even better prepared when we travel to Ireland next month.”
The second round of the British Rally Championship is the Clonakilty-based West Cork Rally, which takes place on 15-16 March and provides the first asphalt encounter of the season.
Cave’s 2019 British Rally Championship campaign is supported by Trailhead Fine Foods (Get Jerky), Cambrian Training, Michelin Motorsport, H.N. Nuttall Foodservice, Atech Racing, Walero and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing.