R5 specification Mitsubishi shows potential on Cambrian Rally before early exit

19th October 2015

After a week of highly successful testing with the R5 specification Mitsubishi, on both gravel and asphalt surfaces, the outcome of the north Wales-based Cambrian Rally was certainly not what the Spencer Sport team was hoping for, or indeed expected.

Drivers Martin Berglund stopped on stage one and Osian Pryce stopped at the service halt before stage three two whilst running in fourth place.

It was a promising start for Welshmen Pryce and co-driver James Morgan, who were third fastest on stages one and two, but a misfire and loss of power brought their event to a premature end at the auxiliary service halt after stage two. For Berglund and co-driver Joachim Gervert, who had travelled from Sweden to take part in this event, the same apparent problem halted them on the first stage.

Following a brief inspection of the cars, Spencer Sport team manager Charlie Jukes reported:  “In both cases the cars suffered a misfire and loss of power. After a fantastic week of testing that represented a distance of more than four BTRDA events, we experienced no problems whatsoever. Therefore, it is very strange we’ve had this problem today, as it’s something that’s never happened before. We can only suspect that it is an issue specific to this weekend.”

Both cars will now return to the factory in Sweden where a detailed investigation will be carried out in order to establish the cause of the problem.

The next competitive outing for the Spencer Sport R5 specification Mitsubishi will be on the Wales Rally GB National Rally in four weeks time.

ENDS