Tough Times For Marshall
02/08/2010
Co-Driver Seb Marshall remains upbeat despite failing to finish the last three events has competed on.
On the Ypres Rally in Belgium, a round of the IRC, Seb and driver Harry Hunt were locked in a tight battle with a brace of local drivers on the highly specialist tarmac event when a damaged steering component put the car off the road early on the second day of competition. Holding a highly creditable fourth place in the Fiesta R2 rankings after a controlled start to the event, the duo were caught out on a fast right left combination of bends and hit a concrete pole at the edge of the road.
At the next round of the Junior WRC, the new-to-the-championship Rally Bulgaria was based around the mountain roads near the Borovets ski resort. An early puncture and brake issues meant the British pair were always playing catch up, but they revelled in the challenging conditions of wet and bumpy tarmac to reach the final day in a strong points position. Unfortunately just 3 stages from the end of the rally a driveshaft broke leaving the car stranded at the foot of an incline near the start of the stage.
Finally the legendary Rally Finland, celebrating its 60th Anniversary, was to see battle resume in the FSTi championship. A cautious start paid dividends as a number of competitors went off road or experienced mechanical issues. After the first day of competiton Harry & Seb lay in 4th position as the leading Non-Scandinavian crew, and even trailed by a number of their Finish challengers. The notoriously fast but technical roads that make up the 'Gravel Grand Prix' were to catch out Hunt and Marshall on the first stage of the second day as a minor error caused a small accident which meant they would go no further.
"It's extrememly frustrating to have been in good positions on all of these events and not make the finish line" said Seb "But on each event we've learnt a huge amount about the various challenges they all throw up."
"I'll always have great memories of competing in Finland for the first time on what is one of the best rallies in the world. I'm now looking forward to Rally Germany in a few weeks time, an event I have experience of having made my WRC debut there in 2008."
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