Damian Cole continued to prepare for the start of the 2021 Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship by giving his Get Connected / TCL-backed Škoda Fabia R5 a run on the Neil Howard Stages – and whilst a heavy cold didn’t help, he was pleased with the progress made in his ex-Jan Kopecký car.
It was the first time that a round of the British Rally Championship had been held entirely at a motor racing circuit, with Oulton Park providing a tricky, if not classic, rally test.
With a lengthy service halt after every short stage, it wasn’t an easy event to find a rhythm on either – although at least there was a lot of time to look at data and make technical adjustments!
Co-driven by Dale Bowen, Damian set 19th fastest time on the opening stage, before dropping down to 35th and fighting back to finish 26th after the eighth and final stage.
“There isn’t much to say about the event to be honest,” admitted Damian.
“I wasn’t feeling very well, a non-Covid cold, and I wasn’t on the pace, apart from the last two stages, which were a slight improvement.”