Thomas and Mackay take victory in round five of the 2024 Defender Rally Series UK Championship

Thomas and Mackay take victory in round five of the 2024 Defender Rally Series UK Championship

Image supplied by Land Rover South Africa

Round five of the 2024 Defender Rally Series UK Championship took place on 13 September at the inaugural Yorkshire Hill Rally, with Thomas and co-driver Mackay extending their points advantage in the UK Championship with another victory that saw them finish ninth overall at the event.

With three days of rallying taking in 152km of fierce competition over 16 stages, drivers raced across a brutal ex-military proving ground, traversing terrain spanning everything from farm fields to forest tracks. The flat course offered high-speed competition on Saturday, with drivers being tested on their ability to switch from fast, open terrain to more technical sections. Thomas’ strategy of employing lower tyre pressures and softer damping proved decisive, giving him a winning edge.

Day three repeated the same stages as the previous day in reverse, but any lessons learned were rendered meaningless by a change in the weather. The previous hot and dry conditions gave way to heavy rain providing a fresh challenge and significantly lower grip levels.

At the end of the day, it was Thomas and Mackay who led the Defender Rally Series field, an outstanding 21 minutes ahead of Burrell and Kirby in second, and 24 minutes ahead of Ferry and Gillespie, in third. Justin and Terina Dooling picked up the Spirit of the Rally award for assisting a competitor out on the stages, finishing fourth and missing their first chance at a potential podium to do so, while Kingsley-Smith and Tyson came home fifth, followed by Luke Fairhead and Paul Chambers in the final Defender 90.

A total of eight specially prepared Defender 90s competed in the event, contributing to a total field of 43 vehicles. The Defender 90 of Paul McCallum and Peter King recorded a DNF alongside John Marshall and Dave Hooper.

Mark Thomas, winner of round five, said: 

“It’s been a good but tough event. I’m very pleased to have been sixth fastest in the last stage and to have finished ninth overall. The contrast between the two days was significant, with the last day being treacherous. My navigator did a great job, and we didn’t pick up any penalties. With no damage to the car and only three punctures, the Defender 90 performed brilliantly. I’m now very much looking forward to Ireland next month!”

The Defender Rally Series is in its third year, with its largest ever field. Limited spots are now available for the 2025 UK Championship ‘Year One’ program. Drivers have joined the 2024 UK Championship from a broad spectrum of motorsport backgrounds and with a mix of driving abilities; some with track racing or rallying experience, others with no competition history at all.

Calum McKechnie, General Manager, Bowler Motors, said: 

“Mark and co-driver Phil’s ninth place overall finish in a competitive field of specialist vehicles is a testament to the team’s skill and the vehicle’s performance. The event turned out to be more challenging than anticipated, as the rain drastically altered the conditions, demanding exceptional driving and teamwork. Looking forward, we’ve got a gravel rally at Clare Forest in Ireland next, which will continue to challenge the teams.”

Thomas and Mackay lead the UK Championship, followed by Ferry and co-drivers Gillespie and Mills in second and Kingsley-Smith and Tyson in third. The next round of the UK Championship is the Clare Forest Rally in Ireland, from 4-6 October.

Defender Rally Series – UK Championship Round 5 Results

 Defender Rally Series – Provisional** UK Championship Standings

**Championship standings are provisional. One point is awarded for event entry, plus 60 points for 1^st, 54 points for 2^nd, 48 points for 3^rd, 46 points for 4^th, minus two points per position thereafter.