De Paddock - Tony Pond overleden

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Tony Pond, one of Britain’s most successful rally drivers of the 1970s and 1980s, died on February 7 at the age of 56. He had been suffering from cancer.

Best known for his long association with what is now MG Rover, Pond also drove with distinction for Chevrolet, Chrysler, Nissan, Opel and Vauxhall. He was the first driver to win the Manx International Rally four times, defeating drivers of the calibre of Hannu Mikkola, Walter Rohrl and Ari Vatanen in the process. He was perhaps at his best on tarmac, also winning the 24 Hours of Ypres twice in TR7V8s and taking a remarkable third place on the 1981 Tour of Corsica in a Nissan Violet, but his international victories included some of the most gruelling forest rallies in South Africa.

Perhaps his most memorable performance came on the 1985 RAC Rally – the last of the unrestricted, through-the-night versions – when he took the Metro 6R4 to third on its first World Championship appearance, dogging Lancia’s Finns Henri Toivonen and Markku Alen from start to finish. The 6R4 failed to live up to expectations as a World Championship contender and Pond’s international career all but ceased a year later, but he maintained his Rover links in cars such as the Maestro, the Rover 800 (in which he lapped the Isle of Man TT course at an average of more than 100 mph) the Metro and the MGF. He was also a talented racing driver.

Charismatic and quotable, Pond was an intensely private man, who devoted himself largely to charity after he retired from driving. He leaves a wife and son.

Bron: http://www.worldrallynews.com