The wet weather helped drivers get their cars sliding and there were some pretty impressive reverse flicks and handbrake turns as competitors of all skills and ages tackled four tough and challenging routes throughout the day.

The Production Car Autotest category was won by Phil Kendall of Colwyn Bay in a Ford Fiesta who put in a huge effort in the last test to jump from third place to take the win with some slick techniques. In the same category, sibling rivalry dominated when brothers Callum and Rory Jones from Penmaenmawr battled it out for the honours in their Renault Clio, before Callum pipped Rory into second place, the pair being separated by just 0.1 seconds going into the last test of the day.

{image_1}The two off-road style 250cc Hammerhead racing buggies prepared by Coleg Llandrillo and driven by Stuart Frost of Carmel and James Jones of Greenfield dominated the Autosolo category in the competition. After a slow start, Frost and Jones were dually locked in a nail biting dual throughout the remainder of the day, the pair soon getting to grips with the balance and sliding threshold of these lightweight racing machines, with Frost just having the upper hand on the younger and lesser experienced Jones throughout the tests.

NWCC stalwart and former ANWCC Autotest Champion, Jeff Buchanan made the journey from Bebington to take part and took third place in his Fiat Cinquecento, the 67 year old retired garage owner putting in a steady performance with just one wrong test mark on his card.
NWCC spokesman Dave Thomas said “It was a good day and we introduced some newcomers to the sport who seemed to enjoy it despite the conditions.” He added “On behalf of the club, I’d like to thank everyone that stood out in the torrential rain to marshal and administer the event.” {image_2}

Article and pictures by John Evans www.i2ipix.co.uk

We would like to extend our thanks to Coleg Llandrillo for allowing us to run the event on their premises. Also, thanks to ‘The Davies family’ for the homemade cakes and biscuits. Thanks to Merit Body repairs for sponsoring the event.

Please see below for final results.

The Burnham-on-Sea & Minehead Motor Clubs organised event attracted 150 crews and took in 9 stages totalling 43 competitive miles mostly on gravel tracks within the forests of Exmoor except for the 7.43 mile long tarmac surfaced Porlock Toll Road stage which included a classic hill climb and a series of very tight hairpin bends. It was to be a rally of attrition with 42 crews failing to complete the event, stage conditions having been described as muddy and rough at times.

Ruthin based driver Hugh Hunter accompanied by Co driver Andy Marchbank of Two Mills put in a faultless performance to take the overall rally win by a huge margin of 1 minutes and 17 seconds and the World Rally Car (WRC) class in his Hunter & Lewis and RS Hunter backed Ford Focus WRC03 car, this victory coming straight after the last round win at the Malcolm Wilson Rally.

Seeded at No.1 after winning the event last year, Hunter said “It was a great event for us and valuable Championship points in the bag, although we suffered all day with an intermittent long brake pedal which was a bit distracting.” Despite this problem and a puncture on stage 8, Hunter set the fastest time on all 9 stages to earn himself 30 Championship points and a huge jump up the Gold Star Championship table to 4th place overall and second place in the WR1 class. On his performance, Hunter said “We went for the win straight out of the starting blocks and had a good clean run through the first stage at Croydon which gave us a solid start and a decent margin on the others.” After a late morning service in Minehead, the crews headed for the tarmac hill climb at Porlock Toll Road where Hunter was surprised at the road conditions on arrival saying “It was hailing and raining heavily at service so tyre choice was important and we opted for wet weather tyres to tackle the tarmac stage, yet when we arrived at Porlock the road was almost dry.”

He added “Porlock Toll Road defines the Somerset Stages for me and I always look forward to that section of the rally; it makes the trip down worthwhile in itself. I wanted to have a crack at the record on the hill climb, but we were 4 seconds slower this year on the wet weather tyres compared to last year when we ran on slicks.”

Hunter’s delight and relief was plain to see with him saying “After a dropped score on the first round of the Championship, I wanted a good result here to get back into contention and it’s a massive relief to be back in the running.”

NWCC member Matt Edwards, 27 of Rhos on Sea had the drive of his life when accompanied by Chesterfield based co driver, Sam Collis, the pair charged through the field of some of Britain’s top drivers to take a convincing and hard earned second place overall in the Mitsubishi Evo IX.

The Swift Group, Holton Homes, Beech Developments, Egniol Environmental, EWP and North Wales Honda backed driver also stormed to a Class B13 victory ahead of Championship leader Shaun Gardener of Ludlow who struggled with boost problems throughout the day in his Mitsubishi Evo.

Edwards achieved his goal for the event of closing the gap in the BTRDA Gold Star Championship to just 4 points, maintaining his second place and also closing the Class B13 competition deficit on Gardener to just 3 points.

Edwards was trialing new tyres provided by emerging tyre manufacturer DMack and said “The tyres were a bit of an unknown quantity when we started the event as it was the first time I had used them, but we managed to get the most out of them and found grip where others struggled, especially at high speed with straight-line grip.” He added “Tyre choice today was critical and we made some major decisions that paid off.”

When asked about stage conditions, Edwards said “Conditions were quite slippery, but we managed to float the car around the corners, carrying a lot of speed and the car handled really well since we sorted out the centre diff problems we had previously.”

Another NWCC member, John Roberts of Colwyn Bay was heading for a class win co driving for Rhuddlan’s Luke Francis in the Bob Francis Crane Hire backed Group N Mitsubishi Evo having set three top 3 fastest stage times when disaster struck on the penultimate stage and the crew left the road after a mistake.

The crew finished sixth overall and third in class with Francis saying “It’s a bitter disappointment after working hard all day for us to then make a mistake on the 8th stage which cost us around 1 minute and dropped us from 4rd overall to 6th place in the end.”

Also out under the NWCC banner was Ian Jones of Abergele co driving for Rob Dennis in the Denwell Coaches backed Ford Escort MK2 BDG, the leading local in the historic category. The crew had a trouble free day to finish 27th overall and second in class H3.
Jones said “The recent major overhaul of the car paid off and we had a lot more power on this event than the opening rounds of the Championship.” Jones picked up a good haul of points in Somerset and achieved his goal of landing second place in the class H3 co-driver’s Championship.

On the results for NWCC, Hunter said “Matt and I have pushed really hard all day and encouraged each other to keep the pace going. It’s a fantastic result for North Wales rallying for all of us that travelled down to the event to have achieved so much.”

The next event in the BTRDA series is the Welshpool based Plains Rally which takes place on the 19th May. A full list of results from the Somerset Stages can be found at www.btrdarally.com.

Article by John Evans i2iPhotography

124 rally crews set off from the famous M-Sport headquarters in Cockermouth, home to the Ford World Rally Team, and took in seven classic stages in the Lake District, Cumbria on a wet Saturday morning including the renowned Grizedale Forest and the Form World Rally Team’s test base at Greystoke Forest.

Heavy rain overnight and during the morning of the event gave for slippery conditions and the gravel stages cut up badly with some large and loose sharp stones lurking just below the surface ready to catch the unwary. It was to be a war of attrition with 43 rally crews failing to get to the finish line.

Hunter has come so close to winning this event in the last couple of years only to lose out to bad luck and this year there was a burning ambition to overcome past problems and achieve his ultimate goal of taking the win.

Hunter’s car is backed by Dunlop Tyres, Lewis & Hunter Contracting Ltd and RS Hunter (Asphalt & Macadam) and prepared by P&R Benn of Cockermouth. Hunter said “It’s the monkey off my back winning this and I really wanted to do it as it’s on Paul Benn’s home patch. His team have done such a great job in getting the car right for me and it went like a dream.”

Having only completed some 60 competitive stage miles on gravel since acquiring the new car late last season, Hunter was impressed with the extra power compared to the old car saying “I really noticed the extra grunt and traction exiting the uphill hairpins and you can feel the pull. The suspension is so much more forgiving and the car handles really well.

He added “I’m still finding my feet with the car, but my confidence is growing with the more seat time that I get. There are a few niggles to sort out and there was a bit of under-steer on the Grizedale stages so we’ll try some alternative diff mappings and maybe bring the steering wheel a bit closer in the driving position before the next event.”

It was a battle of titans for much of the day with Hunter’s closest rival, Paul Bird of Kelso taking his Ford Focus WRC 07 round stages effectively on his former home patch. Hunter ran well on the first three stages, setting the fastest times on each of the stages, but Bird came back at him hard, winning the last three stages. Hunter left the last service with two stages remaining holding a comfortable 12 second lead. {image_2}

The penultimate stage at Greystoke was to provide a cruel twist for Hunter after he clouted an earth bank exiting a tight corner early on in the stage and affecting the balance of the car with Hunter saying “I must have filled one of the wheels with mud from the bank and the car felt well off balance for a mile or so until the earth fell out.” This opened the door for a fight back from Bird and he took 7 seconds off Hunter to reduce the North Walian’s lead to just 5 seconds going into the last stage.

With darkness fast approaching, Hunter was confident that he had done enough and had a good run through the short but pacey last stage at Wythop. Bird drew on his reserves and took a further 2 seconds out of Hunter, but couldn’t overhaul him to win the event with Hunter saying “I thought I had a comfortable margin, but I nearly threw it away. I’m so relieved it’s all over and I’m back in the Championship battle.”

March 2012 – Article by John Evans

Devised by Conwy County Borough Council the award is to recognise those people and projects that are having a positive impact in the County. The Awards received over 60 nominations in recognition of valuable contributions fro the community.

The award winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Friday 16th March 2012.

On behalf of the North Wales Car Club, we would like to thank all the marshals, DSO’s, signing off team, equipment officers, time controls, scrutineers, organising team, hotel staff, and to all the competitors. Without your commitment the event could not have taken place. We would also like to say a big thanks to our sponsor, Buckley’s Mobile Crane Hire

We hope to see you all out again next year.

Thank you.

We are pleased to announce that we have received over 40 entries for this years Winter Challenge Road Rally (sponsored by Buckley’s Mobile Crane Hire). The Winter Challenge is a National B permit road rally which will start from Betws y Coed on the 21st and 22nd January 2012. The road rally is now in the ANWCC Championship and the Glynne Edwards Memorial Championship.

The event will run in a simple format over some of the best rallying roads in the country. With 98% tarmac and 2% gravel it promises to be a memorable event for all. It is a pre-plot format on maps 115/116.

Download the full entry list below.

The Winter Challenge is a National B permit road rally which will start from Betws y Coed on the 21st and 22nd January 2012. The road rally is now in the ANWCC Championship and the Glynne Edwards Memorial Championship.

The event will run in a simple format over some of the best rallying roads in the country. With 98% tarmac and 2% gravel it promises to be a memorable event for all. It is a pre-plot format on maps 115/116.

Download the full entry list below.

{image_1}
North Wales Car Club Limited will promote a National B permit road rally namely The Winter Challenge (sponsored by Buckley’s Mobile Crane Hire) on the 21st and 22nd January 2012. Which is now in the ANWCC Championship and the Glynne Edwards Memorial Championship.

The organising team invites you to enter our event which will be run in a simple format over some of the best rallying roads in the country. With 98% tarmac and 2% gravel it promises to be a memorable event for all. It is a pre-plot format on maps 115/116.

Click here for more information

Citroen Total World Rally Team
Sebastien Loeb (aiming for his eighth world title): “The scenario’s like the one in 2009. We started Rally GB neck and neck with Mikko Hirvonen and whoever finished in front of the other was world champion. With a seven-point gap between victory and second place and three points for the best time in the Power Stage, it’s not a very comfortable situation. My aim won’t be to win at any cost but to run my race depending on Mikko’s.”

Sebastien Ogier (will play a supporting role for Loeb): “I can drive without any pressure where scoring points for the team is concerned. Finishing on the podium would be a good result for me. With regards to the drivers’ world championship, Seb is determined to be master of his own destiny by finishing in front of Mikko. But it’s obvious that if circumstances require it I’ll do everything I can to help him win the title.”

Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Mikko Hirvonen (starts eight points behind title leader Sebastien Loeb): “The only thing I can do is aim to win the rally. If something unexpected happens to Loeb, I may not need to win anymore, but from the outset, the sole target has to be victory. In Wales, everything depends so much upon the conditions. If they’re tricky, you need to be confident, trust the pace notes and take risks, even if you can’t see so well in places.”

Jari-Matti Latvala (still without a win in 2011): “I want to fight for victory and to try to be in a position to help Mikko. Our target is to aim for first and second places. It’s important for the team to put myself ahead of Loeb and take points away from him, so I’ll drive as fast as I can from the start. It will be vital to be sharp from the very first kilometre, because if we allow Loeb to build a lead it will be hard to pull him back.”

M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team
Mads Ostberg (hoping for a strong end to promising 2011 season): “I’d say that Sweden, Finland and Wales are three of my favourite rallies in the WRC so I’m really looking forward to competing in the UK next week. I’m aiming for a top five finish this week but if our test on Saturday goes well then I may feel that we could push for a podium.”

Matthew Wilson (aiming to shine in front of home fans): “Wales is my home event and it’s always a fantastic rally to mark the end of the season. The fans are incredibly supportive and it’s a rally where I want to finish with a good result more than ever. For sure, I was disappointed to move down to eighth in the standings after my final day retirement in Spain but we’ve been a lot closer to the drivers in the top five in terms of points this year.”

Henning Solberg: “Sweden and Wales are two of the WRC events that I know the best and even though we don’t have a test before I think I’m well prepared for the rally. The last couple of rounds have been good for us, it’s taken a while for me to get to grips with the Ford Fiesta RS WRC but I’m now feeling very confident in the car and think that if we have no problems then we will have a good finish.”

For more info and tickets please visit www.walesrallygb.com

Loeb, competing for Citroen Total World Rally Team, has emerged as the most successful rally driver in history with seven consecutive World crowns in the past decade. But Hirvonen, who drives for the UK-based factory Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, could be about to end the seemingly invincible Loeb’s reign at the top.

The Frenchman will arrive in Wales with a slender eight-point lead over the Finn – but with 25 available for a win the game is very much still on. Furthermore, an increasing number of rival crews – including those from iconic British manufacturer MINI – will be challenging for victory on some of the world’s most daunting forest stages. There is no doubt the WRC season is all set for a highly dramatic and unpredictable finish.

Meanwhile Loeb knows a second-place result in Wales will effectively secure him an eighth straight title but, with three bonus points on offer during the event’s concluding Power Stage on the final day of action (Sun 13 Nov), he won’t be relaxing behind the wheel of his Citroen DS3 WRC. The 37-year-old from Alsace, who has won the last three Wales Rally GBs, commented: “If Mikko is winning I have to be second with some good points from the Power Stage. For sure I will try to fight with him and not to be behind. It’s a very open situation and it’s not easy. We will have to fight hard in GB. We know it can be very difficult so we will see what happens. It will be interesting.”

Hirvonen almost pipped Loeb to the WRC crown in Wales in 2009 (following his testing on the Cambrian Rally), only for his car’s bonnet to smash into its windscreen. Two years on Hirvonen can expect great support from his on-form team-mate Jari-Mari Latvala. The ‘flying Finn’ now has much more experience and, having pushed Loeb for the win in Spain two weekends ago before backing off and allowing Hirvonen to finish second, could play a crucial role in the title outcome.

“Of course Jari-Matti did me a big favour in Spain, which was really nice and gives me a chance to fight again in GB,” said 31-year-old Hirvonen, who achieved victory in Wales in 2007 with the same Cumbrian-based M-Sport operation which prepares his Fiesta RS WRC. He added: “It’s going to be a tough one. Everything needs to be perfect. The only thing I can do is win the rally and the Power Stage as well. In previous years I have always had really good pace there so I believe that will be the same this year. We will have a good fight. I just need to make sure the bonnet pins stay closed.”

Equally Loeb’s team-mate, fellow Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, is likely to play a similar tactical supporting role for Citroen. Although only in his second full WRC season Ogier is equal on five wins with Loeb so far in 2011. And maverick Norwegian Petter Solberg, one of only two drivers to have previously won the event four times (2002-03-04-05), is another they all need to watch in his Citroen DS3 WRC.

However many of the hugely enthusiastic spectators will surely be rooting for the MINI World Rally Team and its pair of Mini John Cooper Works WRCs, prepared by the Banbury-based Prodrive organisation that previously achieved WRC glory with the likes of Colin McRae and Richard Burns. The famed British marque has not been represented in top-level rallying since the Sixties but what an impact its 2011 cars, driven by Spaniard Dani Sordo and Northern Irishman Kris Meeke, have had already. In just five appearances Sordo has achieved four strong points results and almost won a month ago in France. Meeke, in his debut WRC season, was a fine fifth two weeks ago in Spain and, on terrain he knows well, could cause a real upset on his home event. Indeed a British driver has not won Rally GB since Burns’s triumph in 2000 and MINI’s only previous victory on the event was in 1965 (with Rauno Aaltonen in a Mini Cooper S)!

Other stars to look out for include former F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and YouTube hero Ken Block – both are sure to be crowd favourites and in huge demand from autograph hunters.

It all adds to up to a fitting season finale for the reinvigorated WRC which, looking to the future, is entering its most exciting chapter for years with the re-installation of the classic Monte Carlo Rally on its 2012 calendar plus the arrival of MINI as well as German manufacturer VW in 2013 to add to the competition.

Simon Long, CEO of WRC promoter North One Sport enthused: “It’s going to be a thrilling and nail-biting end to what’s been a very dramatic first season for the dynamic new-look WRC with the latest technical regulations and live TV ‘power stages’. Now we’re all set for a thrilling finale in the notoriously tricky and treacherous Welsh forests…

“As well as the duel for the world championship the return of MINI on home ground is certain to generate even more interest and intrigue – more so as the team has already underlined its intentions by scoring two podium results from its first six starts. Which ever way you look at it we’re in for a dramatic climax to 2011.”

Meanwhile this year’s Wales Rally GB includes a considerably revised route compared to previous years – following a Ceremonial Start on the Thursday (10 Nov) in Llandudno the opening action is on the spectacular winding cliff-face road around the Great Orme headland on the North Welsh coastline – a stage not used on the event for 30 years. Similarly, there is a return later that day to the Clocaenog forest stage, last part of the route in 1996. Over the next three days the 1150-mile event will venture southwards with the high speed action on many of Wales’ most renowned forest stages interspersed with a Central Service Park at Builth Wells. The event, and the 2011 World Rally Championship, will culminate with a Ceremonial Finish – and the crowning of this year’s WRC Champion – in Cardiff on the Sunday (13 Nov).

FIA WRC Drivers’ Championship (after 12 of 13 rounds)
1. Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen DS3 WRC 222
2. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) Ford Fiesta RS WRC 214
3. Sebastien Ogier (FRA) Citroen DS3 WRC 193
4. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) Ford Fiesta RS WRC 146
5. Peter Solberg (NOR) Citroen DS3 WRC 110
6. Mads Ostberg (NOR) Ford Fiesta RS WRC 70
7. Dani Sordo (SPA) MINI John Cooper Works WRC 57
8. Matthew Wilson (GB) Ford Fiesta RS WRC 53
9. Henning Solberg (NOR) Ford Fiesta RS WRC 44
10. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Citroen DS3 WRC (FIN) 34

Article from Wales Rally GB website

Loeb does not feel his lead is sufficient to get complacent, but says he will judge his pace according to Hirvonen – who has vowed to push flat-out for victory. “With a seven-point gap between victory and second place and three points for the best time in the power stage, it’s not a very comfortable situation,” said Loeb. “My aim won’t be to win at any cost but to run my race depending on Mikko’s.

“It doesn’t matter to me if Sebastien Ogier, Petter Solberg or Jari-Matti Latvala are in the lead provided I’m in front of my rival.”

Loeb’s Citroen team-mate Ogier said he was open to following team orders if required. Ogier dropped out of the title race with engine failure in Spain.

“Seb is determined to be master of his own destiny by finishing in front of Mikko,” said Ogier.

“But it’s obvious that if circumstances require it I’ll do everything I can to help him win the title.”

Article by Matt Beer, AutoSport.com

Almost 80 cars – representing 32 countries – will compete in the World Rally Championship finale in North Wales; and, with 11 British drivers in the line-up, including two from Wales, there will be plenty of opportunities for spectators to cheer on the home talent.

The Start of the event will take place at 2.30pm, Thursday 10th November, on Mostyn Street, Llandudno where access will be free, with additional activities including Victorian-themed traders and entertainers, an old time music hall show, juggling unicyclist, Llandudno and Colwyn Bay tram car and vintage lorry display and steam traction engine with living trailer display.

Spectators on the Great Orme will be treated to tricks from the world-renowned 3SIXTY Bicycle Stunt Team and a thrilling display of driving skill from historic rally group Slowly Sideways, before the first WRC cars begin to arrive on the stage from 2.38pm. Catering, commentary, merchandise and a big screen will all be available on site.

The first day of Wales Rally GB will draw to a close with the official Opening Ceremony and free, family-friendly, medieval-themed entertainments at Conwy Quay and in Conwy town centre. Shops will remain open until 8pm, with the town centre playing host to traditional fairground rides, street entertainers, hot chestnut stands, a coconut shy, minstrels, knights and maidens.

Entertainments on the Quay, which will start from 4pm, will include jesters, balloon modellers, stilt-walkers, circus workshops, magicians, birds of prey and an authentic hog roast. Fireworks over Conwy Castle will herald the arrival of the first cars shortly before 6pm.

Fans will be treated to a true test of driver skill as competitors navigate the 3.3 miles of tight, twisting, tarmac road which make up The Great Orme Toll Road, last used on the Lombard RAC Rally in 1981. Drivers will face the challenge of 3” high kerbs on the seaward side of the road followed by a small wall adjacent to a vertical drop to the sea, providing a thrilling spectacle for rally fans and families alike.

Providing a full day of entertainment, there will be catering, commentary, merchandise and a big screen available to spectators on the Great Orme. Entertainment in advance of the WRC stage will include a thrilling display of driving skill from historic rally group B Slowly Sideways.

The Start for Wales Rally GB 2011 will take place on Mostyn Street in Llandudno town centre at 2.30pm, with the first cars arriving on the Great Orme from 2.38pm. The second stage will run from 2.55pm, with the last cars running through the stage by 4.30pm, before heading to Clocaenog for the final competitive stage of the first day.

The official Opening Ceremony will take place later the same evening at Conwy Quay, in front of Conwy Castle. Free, family-friendly, medieval-themed entertainments will be taking place from 4pm onwards, with fireworks over the castle eralding the arrival of the first cars shortly before 6pm.

On arrival in Llandudno, spectators looking to attend the Great Orme stage will be directed to the Bodafon Fields car park (LL30 3BB), open from 8am. A Park and Ride service will be in operation, costing £2 per person for a return trip between the car park and a choice of two viewing locations on the Great Orme. Buses will be running at regular intervals between 9am and 12noon. Any spectators not on a bus prior to 12noon will not be able to attend the stage. Return journeys will be available between 4.30pm and 7pm. No pedestrian access is allowed through the start and finish of the Great Orme stage.

Alternative parking facilities are available in a non-Rally organised car park on the Great Orme itself from 8am. Spectators using these facilities will be charged £5 per car.

For fans who are unable to attend the whole event and local families who just want a taste of the action, Great Orme tickets are on sale now at www.walesrallygb.com for just £20 per adult and £1 per child over 9 years old (children aged 8 or under go free).*

Hospitality at Wales Rally GB can cater for groups from two to 200 people, with options for the Great Orme including a drinks reception, lunch and afternoon tea. Visit www.matchpoint.co.uk, email walesrallygb@matchpoint.co.uk or call 02920 022 838 for further information.

The North Wales Car Club is assisting with running the Great Orme stage. Family membership is only £15 per year

Review of the 2011 Cambrian Rally

The 56th running of the North Wales Car Club (NWCC) Cambrian Rally attracted over 120 crews from throughout Britain along with French rally driver Laurent Fouques.

Heavy rain throughout the week leading up to the rally and on the day of the event meant muddy and slippery conditions in the classic forestry stages of Penmachno, Clocaenog and Alwen. Of the cars that started, over a quarter never reached the finishing line at Llandudno and those that did had enduring tales of adventure to tell.

{image_1} Rally favourite and 2011 BTRDA Gold Star Champion Andrew Burton blew the engine of his hybrid Peugeot Cosworth on SS2 and retired from the event along with the 2010 Cambrian winner, Steve Perez when his Lancia Stratos suffered with gearbox failure on SS1, the Penmachno stages claiming some big scalps. {image_6}

{image_4} Ludlow based Shaun Gardener, co-driven by Ben Innes in the TNT Tyres (Ludlow) Ltd Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5/9 won the event by just 9 seconds after a titanic battle with Aberdyfi based Tom Cave in a World Rally Car, the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, the pair setting the same times on several stages or at worst being only within a handful of seconds of each other.

A puncture on the first stage in Penmachno and then catching a car on the Orme stage cost 19 year old Cave valuable seconds, the youngster having to settle for 2nd place honours overall, but taking the WRC class win on the event.

{image_5} Back behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive rally car for only the third time since 2008, Edwards said “The hatch back version of the car takes a bit of getting used to and we took a while to find our feet. The conditions out there were the slipperiest I’ve seen on this rally and the twist of changing to tarmac from gravel for the last two stages was a real challenge as we don’t have the budget or team support to do a full swap in the last service from gravel to tarmac spec, relying instead on just changing the tyres.” Despite this,

Edwards set 5th fastest times on both stages on the Orme. In the forest, he set the 3rd fastest time on the Alwen stage, just 7 seconds behind rally winner Gardener with Edwards saying “I set a target of a top five finish which we achieved.”

{image_7} Ffestiniog driver Ieuan Rowlands beat sibling John Rowlands, the latter retiring from the rally with a failed suspension in Clocaenog Forest. Ieuan, co-driven by and Cerrigydrudion’s Emyr Hall in his Volvo engine Ford Escort MK2 finished a stunning 7th position overall and first two-wheel drive car, despite a minor coming together with the scenery in Penmachno and a puncture in Alwen, putting many of the four-wheel drive crews to shame.

Rhuddlan based driver Luke Francis co-driven by John Roberts of Colwyn Bay in the Bob Francis Crane Hire backed Mitsubishi Evo put on a show of great maturity to finish a very credible 8th overall and 3rd in class despite two dramas on the first stage in Penmachno which saw him join several other crews with a puncture and then having a massive high speed moment.

Francis said “The puncture cost me over 20 seconds and in this game, you can only look to pick up a few seconds here and there on the others unless they have major dramas.”

Anglesey driver Keith Parry and co-driver Eryl Evans of Aberystwyth were challenging for 2nd place in the Welsh Forestry Championships, but from being 13th going into the afternoon running of Penmachno North, the car left the road and got stuck in the trees. Despite valiant efforts to free the car, the crew lost over 10 minutes and along with it the 2nd place in the Championship. Parry did however take the Class win in the Championship.

{image_8} One car that made history on the event was the 1275cc mini of Rob Jones which has taken part in the Cambrian Rally for the last 24 years. Jones of Mochdre was co-driven by Pete Buckley, the North Wales Car Club crew managing to finish the event in 75th place despite a few problems with the car.

Ruthin’s Hugh Hunter and regular co-driver Andy Marchbank of Little Sutton were pushing hard in the newly acquired Ford Focus WRC, taking 4th and 3rd places in the two opening stages in Penmachno and winning the Clocaenog stage. However Hunter retired on SS4, Alwen after colliding with a gate post. {image_2}

The Great Orme stage was not without its dramas and provided spectators with close-up action and maybe a taste of things to come when the Orme will be used as the opening stages on the WRC Wales Rally GB.

David Howells ploughed his Subaru Impreza into the stone wall leaving him out of the rally and Nigel Seabold contacting heavily with the raised kerbing in his Subaru Impreza, heavily damaging his wheel and losing precious time in the process.

Article by John Evans

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS