Mark Gamble, who claimed the inaugural Suzuki Swift Sport Cup championship crown at the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire, capped off his season with a fourth win at the last round of the one-make series at the Suzuki-sponsored Tempest Rally in Aldershot, Hamsphire, at the weekend.

Gordon Nichol went fastest in the RC3 (Swift Sport Cup) class on the first stage, but this was shortlived as Gamble, the Wolverhampton-born champion, took back the lead on stage two at Ash, finishing sixteen seconds ahead of the Scottish driver and twenty seconds ahead of Dane Niki Bjerg in second place.

Paul Denning, one of two celebrity entries, fell victim to the day’s wet and treacherous conditions, becoming the first of three to retire in the class, the same fate suffered by drivers Ross Forde, and EVO magazine journalist and rally novice, Henry Catchpole.

As Gamble’s run of fortune continued, with drives that consistently topped the timesheets, it was all to play for further down the order with Dane Niki Bjerg and driver Nick Rowland fighting for the Junior Cup win and a place in the prestigious Pirelli Star Driver Award. Rowland looked to have wrapped up the title, thanks to a stellar drive in the morning’s stages, but a hydraulics failure let him down after lunch, which passed the position back to Bjerg who held on to take the Junior Cup and a nomination for the Pirelli award.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rider, Loris Capirossi, competing in the second celebrity car in both his first ever rally at the level of the Swift Sport Cup, and on a gravel surface, put in a strong drive that brought him to within four seconds of the leader in only his fourth ever stage.

Despite losing time in the closing night stages, a consistent and solid performance throughout the day was enough for Capirossi to overtake Nick Rowland to finish on the third step of the podium behind Niki Bjerg.  

Commenting on the final round of the 2008 Swift Sport Cup series, Ian Phillipson, Championship Manager, said: “It was an exciting finish to the season in what were very tough conditions, but the drivers gave it all that they had, and put on a great show for the spectators. It has been a very encouraging inaugural year for the new championship, and we are already looking forward to 2009 which is set to produce plenty more action, and another close fight for the title.”

Quotes after the Tempest Rally:

Mark Gamble (1st) – “It has been a fantastic year and a faultless story from the Pirelli rally through to the Tempest. During the season, we achieved four wins and one third place, one of the best Suzuki performances of the year. I can’t thank Suzuki enough, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The Tempest Rally has marked a brilliant end to a brilliant year.”

Niki Bjerg (2nd) – “The rally went very well, and this was my first time competing on gravel. I enjoyed the dark stages in particular, and we were running third and fourth in class during the event. The last two stages were very close, and we pushed hard which gave us the result that we wanted. It was important to me that we achieved a good finish in the Swift Sport Cup and to win the Junior Cup, which has earned me a Pirelli Star Driver nomination. I am delighted to have achieved both.”

Loris Capirossi (3rd) – “It has been an amazing day for me, and this was the first true rally that I have ever taken part in. The car worked well, and I experienced a lot of different conditions, such as rallying in the wet and at night which I really enjoyed.

I was running ten seconds behind second place, but I lost a lot of time in the last stage. It has been a fantastic experience, and I would like to thank Suzuki for giving me the opportunity to compete in the Swift Sport Cup.”

Nick Rowland (4th) – “The rally was going very well, and we were running in second. But during the middle part of the day at the start of the stage, we lost the brakes, and half a minute in time.

We managed to stay ahead of Niki Bjerg for most of the rally, but because of the technical problems, Niki took the win in the Junior Cup. Had it not been for this, it would have been a completely different story.”

Gordon Nichol (5th) – “The season has been fantastic, and full of highs and lows. I was very surprised to get second in the championship. It was a challenging rally, and I wasn’t able to push as hard as I wanted to, so that I could keep all four wheels on the road. The fourth place finish capped off a great season, and it was my first time competing at this level. The Swift Sport Cup is the best one-make championship out there.”

Richard Boot (6th) – “It was a disappointing start to the season, which then made it difficult to make up the places in the championship. We were however very consistent, and brought the car home in every rally which we competed in. The Isle of Man and the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire were the definite highlights.”

Henry Catchpole (DNF) – “The season has been absolutely fantastic, and a massive learning curve, but I have come through it in the end. The drive was going very well, and I was getting quicker and quicker, but then we fell off at the last stage. However, it has been great fun, and I would like to thank Suzuki for their support during the season.”

Paul Denning (DNF) – “The car has been incredible, and if ever motorsport is used as an advert for its durability, then this is it. The car took everything that I threw at it, and I learnt a lot both about the Swift “Sport Cup” car and front wheel drive techniques. I would also like to congratulate Loris on his podium finish. It is an amazing achievement, and I hope that this is not the last time that we have fun with Suzuki in the Swift Sport Cup.”

The results at the Tempest Rally:

1 Mark Gamble/Steve Link 1h 01m 39s (1st in class/6th overall)
2 Niki Bjerg/Arly Larsen + 0:04 (2nd in class/7th overall)
3 Loris Capirossi/Craig Thorley + 0:14 (3rd in class/9th overall)
4 Nick Rowland/Tim Sturla + 0:22 (4th in class/10th overall)
5 Gordon Nichol/Emma Morrison + 0:30 (5th in class/13th overall)
6 Richard Boot/Emma Boot + 8:47 (6th in class/20th overall)
7 Henry Catchpole/Chris Brooks - DNF
8 Ross Forde/Arron Forde - DNF
9 Kenneth Madsen/Carnia Moeller - DNF
10 Paul Denning/Jemma Bellingham - DNF

2008 Swift Sport Cup standings (after 6 of 6 rounds)

Driver/Co-driver   Points 
   
Mark Gamble/Steven Link – JAM Motorsport (2008 CHAMPION) 96
Gordon Nichol/Jane Nichol/Emma Morrison – GT Rallying   83
Niki Bjerg/Arly Larsen – Bjergmotorsport.dk   81
Nick Rowland/Tim Sturla – FX Motorsports 79
Henry Catchpole/Chris Brooks – EVO Magazine/MSE 73
Ross Forde/Arron Forde – Global Group Ireland   69
Richard Boot/Emma Boot  66

Summary of Swift Sport Cup Championship Awards

1st Driver: Mark Gamble 
1st Co-Driver:   Steve Link
2nd Driver:  Gordon Nichol
2nd Co-Driver: Arly Larsen
3rd Driver:   Niki Bjerg
3rd Co-Driver:  Tim Sturla
Junior Cup: Niki Bjerg 
Dealer Cup:   Monty’s Sheffield (Richard Boot)
Media Award:  Nick Rowland
Spirit Award: Henry Catchpole
PIAA Night Stages: Mark Gamble