Debut boy Matthew shows he has pace to be a Fiesta contender

Editorial Department • Published 11 Mar 2010 11:21 0 Comments

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Matthew Cathcart on his way to second at the weekend.

Matthew Cathcart demonstrated that he will be a contender for victory in the Fiesta Sport Trophy this season, after a second place finish on the opening round of the series. Despite his relative inexperience, he pushed Fiesta regular Elfin Evans all the way in a fight for victory on the Malcolm Wilson Stages, and although the Welsh driver emerged victorious Matthew showed enough speed to prove the favourite for the title will have to work hard if he is to seal championship success.

The Fiesta Sport Trophy is one of the top one-make championship series' in the United Kingdom and it proved the springboard for Alastair Fisher's assault on both the British and Irish championships in recent years. Matthew Cathcart, brother of Richard, is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Trillick driver by clinching the series at his first attempt.

The Malcolm Wilson rally took place over seven stages covering 41 stage miles around the Cumbrian forests of Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter, and it was the 18 year old Enniskillen driver who set the early pace. Competing on the event for the first time, Matthew and co-driver Simon Hudspeth took seven seconds out of Evans on the opening test, and although Evans was quickest on each of the next two stages it was clear that the battle for victory involved only two drivers.

Stage four saw the lead change hands again after Matthew posted a stunning time 21 seconds faster than his nearest challenger and as the crews arrived at Penrith for the first service he held a slender five-second lead over Evans.

The experience of Evans showed on the two stages through the legendary Grizedale forest, and two fastest times saw him increase his advantage to an unassailable 38 seconds with only one stage remaining. Undaunted, Matthew took 20 seconds off the lead on the final test, but it was not enough to secure what would have been a memorable debut triumph.

The series now heads to North Wales for the Bulldog International Rally and with brother Richard scheduled to start his British Championship challenge on the same event, there will not just be championship points at stake but family pride as well.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Mar 10

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