Biggerstaff takes 3rd in Carsport Trial
Denis Biggerstaff kicked off 2003 with a fine third position finish on his
first event of the year, the CarSport Rally Time Trial.
In the lead up to the event, Denis' mechanics worked non-stop to install a more
powerful engine in his Metro 6R4. The 'good engine', as Denis calls it, was
purchased by his sponsor, Eurocables, and is a high specification 2.5 litre
high-revving unit.
With the new engine installed, Denis arrived in Belfast confident of being able
to put up a good fight on the short and sharp King's Hall event. However,
tough competition was expected to come from a pair of 2001 Impreza World Rally
Cars belonging to Tim McNulty and Maurice Gass, Galway winner Eugene Donnelly
an Impreza WRC97, David Greer's Toyota Corolla WRC as well as a host of other
top drivers.
Third fastest time on the first run was a good start but, as Denis explains, it
could have been better: "In practice we went out on knobbly tyres and it felt
good but we changed the tyres and the ratios for the first timed run and made a
few mistakes."
On the second run, a different set of tyres allowed the Eurocables and Excel
backed Metro 6R4 to shave three seconds off the previous time but with other
competitors also setting faster times, Denis remained in third position.
However, problems in the Biggerstaff camp were soon to become apparent on the
final run of the day.
Midway through the first lap of the third and final test, the Eurocables and
Excel Metro 6R4 was stuck in second gear. Incredibly, the Kinallen man drove
through the stage like a man possessed and managed to set his fastest time of
the day and claim third position overall, just 0.5 seconds behind the winner.
Denis said: "When we arrived at the end of the second run I wasn't sure if I'd
missed a gear or if we had a problem. As it turned out, half a lap into the
third heat we were stuck in second gear. I suppose it was the best gear to
stick in but it didn't help our times. We were lucky to make it to the finish."
Denis Biggerstaff, who is also sponsored by Millers Oils, plans to contest the
Northern Ireland Rally Championship once again this year in a bid to take his
third N.I. Championship title. The first round of the series, the Eurocables
Stages, is due to start on February 22 at Kirkistown Race Circuit.
