Revenge is sweet for Merc pairing

Rally of the Tests November 10-13

Having missed winning the 2004 event by just 12 seconds. Frank Fennell and Kevin Savage claimed the ’05 Rally of the Tests by a comfortable margin in their Mercedes 3005E.

After three full days of special tests and regularity sections. Fennell/Savage arrived at the finish at the Heritage Motor Centre with a lead of two and a half minutes over the Alfa Romeo Giulia of Mickey Gabbett /Michael Jackson.

Starting in Scotland for the first time, the recreation of the 1950s RAC Rally was a tough challenge as it headed over the border towards the Lake District and the Pennines. A virtually full entry included 2004 winners Robin Eyre-Maunsell/Peter Scott. but they went out in Cumbria when their Sunbeam Rapier broke a driveshaft at Lowther Park. Transmission failure at the same special test claimed the Alfa Romeo of Paul Wignall and Peter Rushforth.

Fennell/Savage stormed to victory as Irish and Dutch crews locked out the top five places. Behind Gabbett/Jackson, Bert Dolk/Jan Berkhof impressed hugely on their first appearance at this event to take third in their Alfa Romeo Giulietta.