Morrison in search of another finish on the Isle of Man

BTRDA Challenge contender George Morrison heads to the Manx in search of solid result

Photo credit:  MCR Motorsport Media

Cottesmore rally driver George Morrison will head across the Irish Sea this week to contest the second round of the BTRDA Rally Challenge, the Manx National Rally. He will make the trip to the Isle of Man to contest the two day event which sees the BTRDA series change to an asphalt surface for the first time this season.

Morrison kicked off his 2016 rally campaign with a twelfth in class in the Exmoor forests back in April despite new co-driver Jon Quintrell using the event to learn the ropes for the first time. Several timing penalties meant the new duo would slump down the leader board but the aim was simply to finish after heavy rain had made the forest stages treacherous for the 130 crews.

Using his familiar MG ZR, the HM Forces Mechanic has turned to the mixed surface BTRDA Rally Challenge this year which offers the opportunity to contest both forest and sealed surface events across the UK. After a season in forests last year, Morrison admitted to missing the asphalt and looked to the Challenge which would enable him to use his MG on both surfaces. After a pre-season test at the Rockingham Stages at the end of 2015, Morrison could confirm his plans to tackle the series.

The second round of the season will see Morrison head to the Isle of Man which is famous for hosting the TT races every year. Much like the world famous bike race, the Manx National rally takes place across closed public roads on the island and provides over 100 miles of special stages. Split over two days, the event provides a tough challenge for even the most experienced competitor. Morrison is no stranger to the island having competed there back in 2010 but is under no illusion of the task ahead.

“The Isle of Man is known the world over for its roads and to be retuning there with the MG is really exciting” says Morrison. “Jon (Quintrell) and I had a good Somerset and once he settled in our pace really began to improve, it was only his first event after all. So the Manx should be an equally big challenge and it will be important to get another decent result for our championship.”

And his previous experience on the Island won’t offer much assistance “Last time I was there it was in the Peugeot 205 and I had a podium on each leg of the event” he says. “But the MG is completely different to the 205 and it’s a long rally so we will take each stage as it comes. If we can improve as much as we did on the Somerset throughout the weekend, then I`ll be happy.”

Morrison is backed this year by SMR Detailing and AB Motorsport. -Ends-

Notes to editor:

The BTRDA Rally Challenge takes competitors to all corners of the UK, contesting seven mixed surface rallies.

For more

information visit www.btrdarally.com

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