An argument with a tree cost Whangarei's Ben Jagger the chance of victory in the Ford Fiesta Sport Trophy International Shootout in England this week. Jagger was the overall leader in the FFST shootout, performing exceptionally in the media, psychological and physical assessments before he failed to take a corner inthe final driving challenge in the 3km stage in the Group N Fiesta ST at M-Sport's Greystoke Forest testing centre. Before the crash, Jagger was a good chance of earning the top prize that 16 entrants from all around the world were competing for: hands-on experience in a top level World Rally Championship team, a 12-month employment contract with M-Sport, an apartment at the Dovenby Hall HQ and the opportunity to experience European WRC events with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. Instead the prize went to Irish Fiesta Sport Trophy International
champion Craig Breen. Breen, who posted the best time in the driving challenge, was joined in the final five by four outstanding competitors who all merited a chance to face the final interview after a series of strong performances over the two days: England's Patrick Anglade, Ireland's Mark Donnelly, Swede Mattias Wennman and Cedric de Cecco from Belgium.
But it's not all bad news for the Whangarei 20-year-old, who was rated worthy of special mention by M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson for his performance on the first day of testing and he still has his win - and $50,000 prize package - in the inaugural Rally New Zealand Rising Stars development award this year. He is planning to step up from the two-wheel drive class into the Group N class this season.
