Arndt Rallying is the home of the Stefan Arndt's Rallying blog. Updates on the current and past rallys and results. Plus any other random car/racing/rallying related stuff that gets put up.

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

Stefan steps up the challenge

Farnborough-based rally co-driver Stefan Arndt enjoyed success in north of the border at the weekend, steering his partnership with driver Dave West to a credible 13th place finish in the second round of the Peugeot Super 106 Cup in Granite City. Arndt, who races with Keris Motorsport team, made the trip to northern Scotland to take part in the extremely competitive series along with 30 other racers.

Keris' powerful 106 rally car with a bhp of 150 had to contend with extremely challenging conditions but came through unscathed to build on his impressive seventh place in the opening round in Staffordshire three weeks ago.

The Granite City Rally is held on Forestry commission roads on the outskirts of Aberdeen. The normally challenging granite-covered road surface was made treacherous by a covering of snow and ice. A number of competitors suffered rolls and excursions into the trees on the first few stages of the event, but thankfully no serious injury was caused.

High Wycombe-based driver Dave and Stefan endured a heart-stopping moment on the second stage when the car decided to try and swap ends, but lightning reactions by Dave saved the day as he brought the car back into line and continued the head-long rush through the Scottish forests.

But the tram of Dave and Stefan were slightly off the pace on this particular event as this has been their first opportunity to use the car on a gravel rally. However, they both found it a good learning experience with Dave getting to grips with the handling of the car by the end of the day.
Stefan and Dave are next out in the Peugeot 106 on the Pirelli Rally, but as soon as Stefan gets back he has to leave immediatly for the Isle of Man to co-drive for regular Keris Motorsport driver Dave Perrelet on the Steyr Puch Manx National Rally in the dependable and recently re-built Peugeot 205.

Wednesday, April 12, 2000

David's on the right track

Farnborough-based rally team, Keris Motorsport have buried the ghost of a nightmare few months to begin the new rally season with a podium finish. Keris chief David Perrelet got his season off to a flying start at the Sunseeker Rally at Bournemouth last weekend with a 2nd place finish in class B20 of the Ancro National Championship - despite driving in a brand new car.

Perrelet's preparation for this year's event were dealt a hammer blow when he wrote off his Peugeot 205 in the last rally of last season. A delay in re-building the car meant that Perrelet had to borrow a car, and thanks to the generosity of fellowHart Motor Clubmember Tim Warburton in lending him his Vauxhall Nova, Perrelet was able to take part as planned.

The team, crewed by 1999 B11 Champion Perrelet and co-driver Stafan Arndt, had only driven the car for the first time on the morning of the event, but still managed to finish the 35 stage rally in 42nd place overall and second in the class.

Perrelet said afterwards:
"I think the results proves that after last year's crash at The Bulldog Rally, since when I have never driven competitively, Stefan and I can still work together well, regardless of which car we drive in. "

The event, which stated and finished at Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, was eventually won by Marcus Dodd in a WRC Subaru, ahead of last year's championship winner Kenny McKinstry