Dealer Team Suzuki drivers James Wozencroft and Lorna Smith swept to victory at the Ulster International Rally over the weekend in their Swift Sport Group N2 cars.

Wozencroft and co-driver Chris Ridge battled all rally with the MG of Matt Beebe, who suffered an engine failure on the penultimate stage, moving James up to 1st in class R2 and a top 10 placing of 8th overall in the British Rally Championship and 1st in class N2 in the Irish Tarmac Championship. This win came on the back of a mature drive in the Swift Super 1600 factory car at Rally Deutschland.

Team mate Lorna Smith and co-driver Joanne Oakey entered the Ulster International Rally knowing that if they finished, they would be crowned Irish Tarmac Champions Class N2 with one round remaining in Cork during late September.

All was going to plan until stage 11 (Mount Pleasant 1) when they misjudged a crest and in fifth gear flat out rolled the car losing 4 minutes in the process. They managed to get the car back to service at Armagh, where in 30 minutes the technical crew repaired the car and sent them back out.

There were no further dramas as they brought their Swift Sport Group N2 car home 3rd in class R2 and 12th overall in the British Rally Chgampionship, and 2nd in class N2 in the Irish Tarmac Championship thereby securing the title they so richly deserve.

Team Manager Ian Robinson commented: “This has been a great weekend for Dealer Team Suzuki and Suzuki Sport, having secured a major championship with the Swift Sport Group N2 car in its first year of competition. Both crews ran a near perfect rally, despite Lorna’s accident, which once again showed the strength of the car.

“This result was a great team effort and I cannot thank enough the Technical crew who for the second time this year employed their experience and professional approach to ensure that Lorna’s car was repaired and back in the rally without receiving any penalty points.”

Dealer Team Suzuki now travels to Cork for the last round of the Irish Tarmac Championship with the two cars in 1st and 2nd position in class N2 and still with the opportunity of winning the British Rally Championship class R2 with the Trackrod and Wales Rally GB rounds remaining.