Opel rarity scores first historic win

The first major historic victory for an Opel Transeurope marked the 2010 Historic Tour of Flanders, as the Belgian and British historic rally championships came together.

Gunter Monnens and Frédéric Vandenbulcke took the rare 2.8-litre development of the early Manta (above) to victory, while top of the Brits running within the Belgian event were Darren Moon/Graham Wild (Escort Mk2) in fourth overall. Maximum points in the British championship went to Will Onions/David Williams (Escort Mk2), while David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Escort Mk1) won category two to boost their BHRC title bid.

Further down, Jimmy McRae drove an Opel Ascona A for the Belgian SMS team. It was the first time he had rallied the earliest-shape Ascona.

Unfortunately the rally was marred by a major accident for the Escort Mk1 of Jeremy Easson/Alun Cook, which hit a hidden culvert and cartwheeled into a field. Easson subsequently required surgery for a back injury.