Damian Cole has taken the lead in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship after scoring maximum points on the Rally van Wervik.
Rain made the opening stages in Belgium so slippery that Damian didn’t know how he’d managed to keep his Get Connected/Energizer-backed Fiesta RS WRC on the narrow roads – and out of the neighbouring cabbage fields!
Softening the car’s springs for the second loop allowed him to catch and overtake his championship rivals – pushing on at tremendous pace on the drying roads.
Co-driven by Dale Bowen, Damian was able to complete the final loop without drama, finishing the 12 super-fast stage event eighth overall – and more importantly just under 16 seconds ahead of his nearest championship rival.
The result means that Damian leaps from third to the top in the Asphalt Championship drivers’ standings.
“This is the first time I’ve driven the Fiesta WRC since the Mewla Rally last year, and it’s much better now we’ve had the fifth injector removed,” said Damian.
“The first loop [of stages] was horrendous, I’ve never driven anything as slippery as stage three. It was much more enjoyable when we had grip, and I need more practice in taking cut on mud and grass.”