A RAF rally crew based at RAF Cranwell and RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, has won the 2018 RAF Motorsports Association (RAFMSA) rally championship.
Squadron Leader Clare Law and Mr Ady Warrant took part in the RAFMSA rally championship which is open to RAF regular and reserve personnel and contractors. It comprises of 5 single venue stage rally events of the crew’s choice, with the final event being the Hall Trophy, Blyton on 24 Nov 18 where the RAF trophy is presented.
Clare, an officer based RAF College Cranwell and Ady, an Amey contractor at RAF Coningsby, had a mixed season with their BMW M3 Compact. Having missed out on a championship win last year by just 4 points, they were eager for success this year. The season had its ups and downs, with a Donington event cancelled due to heavy snow and another at Fulbeck stopped for safety reasons after a crop fire.
The team hoped for a good finish at Cadwell in November but collided with a tyre barrier on the track causing damage to a wheel hub and a disappointing early retirement. The pressure was on for the final championship event coming just a week later at Blyton. Luckily, a handful of spare parts put the car back in action and the pair arrived at Blyton along with 4 other RAF rally crews.
“We just set out to finish and have fun, avoiding putting ourselves under pressure.” Ady said.
It paid off as the pair crept up from their 21st place seeding to finish 14th overall and 2nd in class, missing 1st in class by just one second.
The couple’s rally car is a modified BMW M3 Compact affectionately known as ‘Judy’. Over the last 4 years she has had success in the RAF Rally Championships with 2 wins and 2 second place trophies as well as a number of 2nd and 3rd in class trophies. Ady and Clare are now retiring Judy and restoring a 1976 Ford Escort Mark II to compete in with the continued support of their engineering team.
“We couldn’t do this without our support crew of FS James Rooke from RAF Waddington, his wife Ruth, from RAF Air Cadets at Cranwell and their son Ash. The financial support I get from the RAF Central Fund as a member of the sports lottery is always a help too.” said Clare.
