Superb second for Simpson at North West Stages

Neil Simpson finished his first rally in 12 years on the podium after coming home second overall, claiming class honours in the 2014 Legends Fires North West Stages rally on Saturday afternoon.

Despite tricky conditions, the former Volkswagen works driver and co-driver Claire Mole battled back from 17th on the second day of the Blackpool based event to finish over a minute and a half ahead of the third placed Subaru Impreza of Darren Doherty and Andy Falconer, winners of the 2010 event.

The rally was the first event in an eight rally calendar for Simpson. His Simpson SKODA Motorsport team will be entering asphalt rallies in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, France and Belgium over the course of 2014 in their former works SKODA Fabia S2000.

The winner of the Legends Fires North West Stages was Paul Bird in an ex-WRC Ford Focus. The Moto GP team boss who came close to winning the MSA Asphalt championship in 2013, also won this event last year. A penalty denied him victory on his North West Stages debut in 2012.