The new-format MSA British Rally Championship got off to a stunning start when an intense day-long battle between Jarko Nikara/Petri Nikara in their R3 Citroen DS3 and Mark Donelley/Dai Roberts in their R3 Renault Clio finally went the Northern-Irish drivers’ way.
With the two crews never separated by more than four seconds throughout the 12-stage Rallye Sunseeker International – round one of the 2012 BRC – their neck-and-neck duel was finally decided when the Finnish crew retired on the penultimate stage after their car’s engine lost power.
Nikara’s exit, coupled with the accolade of a fastest time on the final stage, meant that Desi Henry/Niall Burns in their R3 Citroen DS3 shot from fifth to second in the final loop of three stages, crossing the line just 0.2 seconds ahead of Elfyn Evans/Andrew Edwards in their Fiesta.
Their podium position established them as the first R2 category car after they too were locked in a day-long battle that saw no more than a hand-full of seconds spitting the top four class 6 cars for a large proportion of the event.
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