CEREDIGION rally ace Jamie Jukes mastered atrociously wet and slippery conditions on the Isle of Man to win the 2018 PokerStars Rally in the Spencer Sport R5 specification Mitsubishi Mirage.
Co-driven by James Morgan, the Penrhiwllan-based driver made a cautious start in poor weather conditions on the Friday night. Having survived heavy rain and flooded roads, he held a strong second position at the overnight halt and was sportingly full of praise and admiration for Kevin Davies and Dylan Jenkins, who led the event by 11 seconds in their Escort Mk2 at that stage in the rally.
Despite the rain easing, Saturday’s stages continued to be extremely slippery. Jukes used the four-wheel drive and rallycross-inspired set-up of the Mitsubishi Mirage to great effect and upped his pace, taking the lead of the Manx Auto Sport-organised event on SS7, the opening stage
From then on, he consistently increased his advantage and adopted an ‘unfamiliar measured push to the finish’ to win the event overall by 1 minute 42 seconds.
Andrew Dudgeon and Joe Dooley were second in the Mitsubishi Evo, with Kevin Davies and Dylan Jenkins third in the Ford Escort. The top five was completed by Tristan Pye and Andrew Falconer fourth, and Andy Davies and Max Freeman fifth, both in Subaru Imprezas.
Winning a rally on the Isle of Man has been a goal for Jukes for some time and it was extra special as victory came just over a year after he and co-driver Dave Williams were hospitalised after an accident on the island. Jukes had no hesitation in dedicating his win to his friend Mark James, who had crashed his Escort Mk2 on Saturday morning’s SS8.
“We were dutifully cautious and got through Friday night without problems, other than a small electrical gremlin at the beginning of stage two, “ said Jukes.
“That left us in second and in a decent position for Saturday, which then required a measured push to the finish - not familiar territory for me I have to admit!
“Without question, it has already gone down in history as the wettest rally ever.
“We knew it was going to be bad and the team used some of the experience gained from the British Rallycross campaign to massage the car into something that could cope with what was coming.”
Jukes added: “It’s been quite some journey this one and I’m very pleased to have got the job done and won the event.
“I’ve so many people to thank: Dave Williams, my great friend and accomplice; James Morgan for bringing his influence and talent into this absolutely fabulous little car; Charlie Jukes for taking the flack whilst doing his best for me - his little brother - and to everyone that makes the wonderful Spencer ECA and Spencer Sport teams what they are.
“The downer to all this is the uncertain situation with my personal friend and Spencer ECA’s totally reliable heavy haulage contractor Mark James. A nicer man you will not find, and from the bottom of my heart I hope it’s all okay in time. I dedicate this result to you.”
Results: 2018 PokerStars Rally: Top 10 finishers: 1. Jamie Jukes/James Morgan (Mitsubishi Mirage R5) 1hr 06mins 17secs; 2. Andrew Dudgeon/Joe Dooley (Mitsubishi Evo) 1hr 07mins 59secs; 3. Kevin Davies/Dylan Jenkins (Ford Escort) 1hr 08mins 00secs; 4. Tristan Pye/Andrew Falconer (Subaru Impreza) 1hr 08mins 38secs; 5. Andy Davies/Max Freeman (Subaru Impreza) 1hr 09mins 03secs; 6. Stuart Egglestone/Brian Hodgson (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr 11mins 40secs; 7. Rory McCann/Paul McCann (Honda Civic) 1hr 12mins 15secs; 8. Gordon Morrison/Michael Hendry (Subaru Impreza) 1hr 12mins 19secs; 9. Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr 12mins 55secs; 10. James Munden/John Leigh (Subaru Impreza) 1hr 13mins 11secs.