Broken driveshaft denies Fiesta victory for Cristofaro

Milford Haven rally drive Nick Cristofaro had a disappointing end to his British Rally Championship season when a broken driveshaft led to his retirement from the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire while leading the Fiesta SportTrophy class.

Having successfully tested his Genpower UK, Ginsters, Cristotec, Autoglym, Millers Oils, Nicky Grist and Elite Remapping-supported Ford Fiesta ST in Hamsterley before the event Cristofaro had high hopes of ending his season in style with a Fiesta win on the Scarborough-based event.

The rally kicked off with a 14 mile stage in Dalby forest, a forest where there are several long straights which suit the more powerful Fiesta R2 cars rather than Cristofaro’s older ST model. Despite this he managed to finish the stage in third place in the Fiesta class.

“We had a good test session and the pre-rally recce went well, it gave me the opportunity to get used to having Janice Moore as my co-driver again,” said Cristofaro. “I knew I’d have to push really hard in Dalby to try and keep up with the newer Fiestas and I was pleased not to drop much time to them.”

The next four stages, two runs of Gale Rigg and one of Cropton and Staindale were shorter and more technical. Cristofaro overcame his relative lack of power to storm to three fastest Fiesta times and one second fastest, a performance which saw him head the Fiesta SportTrophy leaderboard.

Sadly the chance of a Fiesta win for Cristofaro vanished when a loud bang at the start of the next Langdale stage signalled a broken driveshaft which forced him out of the event.

“Gale Rigg, Cropton and Staindale went really well, I was delighted with three fastest time although it could’ve been four but for a slight collision with a bank. Langdale was another long stage and I was confident that we could pull a good lead out over the other Fiesta crews but the snapped shaft put paid to that. It was really gutting as I think we were on for the win and that could’ve meant a possible nomination for the Pirelli Star Driver prize as well as taking the Fiesta championship but it was not to be.”

“I just hope that potential sponsors will see that I have the pace and commitment to compete at the top level of British rallying so that I am able to drive a TEG Sport Skoda Fabia in 2012. The Fiesta is now for sale and I’ll be working as hard as I can to get the funds together so I can continue in the British Rally Championship next year. Thank you to all the people who have supported me in 2011.”

Please visit www.nickcristofaro.co.uk or join the Facebook group www.facebook.com/NickCristofaroRallying for all the latest news and photos.

Cristofaro and Moore to reunite in Yorkshire

Milford Haven’s Nick Cristofaro will return to the British Rally Championship next weekend when he contests the International Rally Yorkshire.

Cristofaro was forced to miss the last round in Ulster due to budget constraints but he has managed to secure sufficient support to take part in the Scarborough-based event in his TEG Sport Ford Fiesta ST.

He will be reunited with co-driver Janice Moore for the rally, the pairing having previously competed together when Cristofaro contested the Junior 1000 championship in 2009.

“I’m very happy to be competing again, it was very frustrating not being in Ulster for the last round,” said Cristofaro.

“I’ve been lucky to get some extra support from Genpower UK and I’ve also been working flat out with my Cristotec remapping business and at Carew karting to try and get the funds together to do the event. “

Joining Genpower UK and Cristofaro’s other supporters Cristotec, Autoglym, Millers Oils, Nicky Grist and Elite Remapping for the event will be Ginsters, the Cornwall-based manufacturer of pasties, sandwiches and pies.

“I’m very grateful to Ginsters for their support and also to Janice for securing the deal. We’re on a very tight budget so all the support we get is vital.”

Cristofaro is hoping for a good result to boost his hopes of attracting sponsorship for 2012 as he has the chance of competing in the British Rally Championship as part of the TEG Sport Skoda Fabia team.

“TEG Sport have given me the fantastic opportunity to compete in the Skoda next year but to take advantage of the offer I will have to get the funding together to help support the drive. With the championship moving to two-wheel drive cars only in 2012 and TEG Sport being one of the leading teams the Skoda drive would be ideal for me and I’ll be working as hard as I can to get the deal.”

Disappointing retirement for Moore on Quinton Stages

Janice contested the Quinton Stages rally in mid-Wales with Malcolm Mawdsley in his Subaru Impreza. Unfortunately their event ended on stage two when the power steering failed.

Janice contested the Tour of Epynt event with Mark Ellis in his Subaru Impreza. Despite a broken driveshaft early on they were having a good run and completed all the stages.

Unfortunately the gearbox broke after the final stage meaning that they were unable to reach the finish of the event.

Janice made her comeback to rallying last weekend when she partnered husband Simon Moore to compete in the Jack Frost Stages event.

The pairing claimed at excellent sixth overall in a Renault Clio. Janice is hoping to compete in further events throughout the year.

Nick Cristofaro and Janice Moore took their second victory in as many weekends with a dominant performance at the Teesside Autodrome F1000 rally where they claimed fastest time on seven of the events ten stages to top the leaderboard.

After their win in the Hall Trophy Junior Rally hopes were high for another good result at the Teesside event where the Formula 1000 Junior drivers (aged 14-16) would compete on the same stages as the Senior F1000 crews.

Cristofaro and Moore got off to a fast start in their Nissan Micra, setting the quickest time on each of the first four stages of the event. Not only were they quicker than the other Junior crews, they also beat all the Seniors.

"We had a brilliant start, picking up where we left off last weekend," said Moore.

"We had no problems and Nick drove very well, pulling out a lead of 12 seconds over the second placed crew."

A couple of seconds were lost on the fifth stage as the Micra understeered into the stage merge and went off but the crew were back at the top of the leaderboard for stage six.

Two further fastest times in the last four stages saw Cristofaro and Moore take victory by 19 seconds from fellow Junior driver Ashley Slights.

"It’s a great way to end the season, we finished third in the championship but it’s a shame we had two retirements earlier in the year as Nick would’ve been in with a chance of winning it."

"Nick is hoping to do the championship again next season if he can get enough support, please contact Nick or myself via www.janicemoorerallying.co.uk if you can offer any help at all, financial or otherwise."

The event was Janice’s last of 2009. With 14 stage events completed this year, including most of the British Rally Championship, 2009 has been one of the best rallying years in Janice's co-driving career and she will be back out on the stages in 2010.

Formula 1000 Junior rally driver Nick Cristofaro and co-driver Janice Moore emerged victorious from a very close battle at the Hall Trophy rally last weekend. The event, which was held at Blyton in Lincolnshire, saw Cristofaro and Moore take the win by just four seconds from Cameron Davies.

Heavy rain in the days before the rally meant that parts of the tarmac course were underwater and with the cars required to use normal road tyres the opening pair of stages proved very tricky as the crew battled to keep their Nissan Micra on the stage. After two stages they were in third place overall.

Conditions did not improve on the next two stages, a very heavy downpour making the tarmac treacherous. A few slides in the wet and problems with the wipers saw the Micra crew drop to fourth place.

"The opening stages were very slippery and it was a bit nerve-racking hitting the standing water with road tyres on the car", said Moore.

"We set some decent times though and although we had a few moments in the wet we were pleased to be fourth early on."

The sun shone for the next few stages and on a drying course Cristofaro and Moore increased their pace, setting five consecutive fastest stage times to move into the joint lead of the event after stage 9 with Ashley Slights in his Toyota Yaris.

Cristofaro and Moore moved into the outright lead in stage 10, setting a time five seconds faster than Slights. Despite a late charge from Cameron Davies they held on to take the win by four seconds after twelve stages.

"Nick did brilliantly to set five fastest times in a row, the stage wasn’t as wet as earlier but there were still some very tricky parts to negotiate."

"We retired from the lead on our first two events together so it’s especially pleasing to take the victory. Competition in the F1000 Junior class is very close and every second is vital."

"I really believe Nick could progress far in rallying if he gets the right support, he doesn't have the financial backing or any rallying in the family like most of the other juniors. If you would like to talk about helping out or sponsorship opportunities please contact Nick or myself via http://www.janicemoorerallying.co.uk or come and say hi at the next round....every little helps!"

Cristofaro currently lies 3rd in the F1000 junior championship and he and Moore will contest the final round of the F1000 Junior championship next weekend at the Teeside Autodrome near Middlesborough.

Janice Moore had her best ever overall gravel rally result on Saturday (7th November) when she co-drove Mark Gamble to second place on the Tempest 2 rally in a Citröen C2R2 Max.

With Gamble using the car for the first time on gravel the crew made a cautious start to the Aldershot-based event, lying 11th overall after the opening two Yateley Wood and Warren Heath stages.

"The opening stages were slippery and we didn’t want to risk going off," said Moore.

"Mark had to get used to the new car on the gravel and, as our first event together didn’t last too long, he had to get used to me too!"

The Citröen crew stepped up the pace over the next three stages and, despite catching a slower car in one of the runs, they emerged from stage five in an excellent second overall behind Julian Wilkes.

Stage 6 saw the leaderboard change, Gamble and Moore again catching a slower car and losing eight seconds to new rally leader Jason Pritchard, who was also out in a Citröen C2R2 Max.

The leading two crews recorded exactly the same times on stage seven and eight and with two stages to go Gamble and Moore were just five seconds behind. Unfortunately it was dark for stage nine and the crew had no time to fit spotlights before the stage. Hampered by poor visibility they lost a further six seconds to Pritchard who had fitted lights earlier in the day.

Lights were fitted for the final stage but any hopes of a victory charge were stopped when the crew backed off slightly after they saw lights appearing to head towards them. Fortunately the other car was in another part of the stage but more time was lost to the leader. With third place man Wilkes breaking a driveshaft they were able to maintain their second place on the leaderboard despite the time loss.

"It was disappointing that we weren’t able to challenge for the lead on the last two stages but overall we’re delighted with the result."

"The car performed well and we had no major problems, it was an enjoyable event and great to get a finish."

Janice will next be in action at the Hall Trophy Stage Rally at Blyton where she will partner Nick Cristofaro in a Nissan Micra as part of the Formula 1000 Junior championship.

More driveshaft frustrations: For the second weekend running Janice suffered a rally retirement due to a broken driveshaft. She was partnering F1000 Junior driver Nick Cristofaro in a Nissan Micra on the Peter Lloyd Rallying Stages.

Mechanical misery on Otterburn: A blown engine saw Janice and driver David Conley retire their Hillman Avenger from the Lindisfarne Rally. They were in a promising 3rd in class at the time on the Otterburn-based event.

Moores take 12th on Bomb-Along: Janice partnered father-in-law Ken Moore on his first event for over ten years, the Bomb-Along Stages at Carver Barracks in Debden. A successful day saw them finish an excellent 12th overall and 5th in class in a Subaru Impreza.

Mixed Manx fortunes for Moore: East Boldon rally co-driver Janice Moore had mixed fortunes on the double-header Isle of Man Challenge rally last weekend when retired from the first event and completed the second in seventh place.

Janice was partnering James Watts in his VW Polo, the pairing having previously competed on the Pirelli rally in April.

The first event kicked off with a tough loop of three stages, Staarvey with its notorious jumps, the tight and twisty lanes of Kella, and Ravensdale with its famous hairpin. Watts and Moore got off to a steady start with two seventh places before pushing more on stage three for fifth, giving them fifth place overall at the first service halt of the event.

“We were cautious on the opening two stages, both had very twisty narrow sections where one mistake could see the end of your rally,” said Janice.

“Stage three was quicker for us although we had a couple of moments including almost rolling on the Druidale section and then taking the hairpin at Sartfield a little too quickly resulting in the rear wheel being well off the ground.”

Following service the rally moved south for the Newtown and Cringle stages which totalled 35 miles between them. A collision with a kerb exiting a corner in Newtown saw the suspension and steering get damaged which slowed the Polo on both that and the following stage.

Repairs were made at service and Watts and Moore headed for stage six, Glen Roy. Unfortunately a driveshaft broke in the stage and, although they made it to the finish, they were forced to retire.

“We were disappointed to retire although the time we lost following the kerb incident meant that we had no chance of a good result. Fortunately we were able to fix the car and have it ready for the second event.”

Rally 2 was scheduled to take place over eight stages although the first one was cancelled following accidents in the preceding International event.

Watts and Moore had a troublefree run up until the last stage of the event, although conditions in some stages were treacherous with a heavy downpour of rain making the previously grippy tarmac feel like ice, mist on the higher stages adding to the bad conditions.

The last stage saw the cars run from the roads in the mountains down into Douglas and Watts and Moore were fortunate to complete the stage, another driveshaft failure almost ending their event.

“The second event was better for us, the conditions were very testing and we were happy to get through unscathed. It’s a shame the driveshaft broke again on the last stage, we’d been going well and were enjoying it, at least we got to the finish though.”

Janice is currently planning her events for the rest of the year, with an outing on the Woodpecker rally hopefully taking place in September.

Caerwent disappointment: Janice contented the Mid Summer Caerwent rally in South Wales with Nick Cristofaro in a F1000 Nissan Micra. They were comfortably leading their class until a broken fuel pump caused their retirement.

Janice will be out again next weekend on the Tyneside Stages which takes place on the Otterburn military ranges.