Russ Thompson/Stephen Link claimed maximum Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points after a superb run on the Nicky Grist Stages, while James Giddings/Aled Davies have taken the lead at the top of the overall drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings in what was a magnificent event for both Mitsubishi crews.
It wasn’t without drama for either crew, however, as Round 3 of the series played out over the classic mid-Wales loose surface stages of Llyn Login, Monument, Halfway and Bowlsey (the renamed Crychan stage).
Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear had been 9.8 seconds quicker than their closet Pirelli Welsh rivals through SS1, but they went no further as a throttle position sensor failed on their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 on the stop line of the opening stage.
That non-finish drops the defending champions from first to third in the overall standings.
James spun on SS1 and 2 and overshot a junction on SS3, stalling the engine of his Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9 on all three occasions and losing a total of 40 seconds.
Something clearly wasn’t right, and when the differential mapping was adjusted and rebooted at midday service the car was transformed. It allowed the Swansea driver to enjoy a much less dramatic afternoon, where he claimed second-place points to take the lead of the Pirelli Welsh series.
Dan O’Brien would have finished ahead of James (by eight seconds) had all times for SS2 not been cancelled owing to a timing systems issue – but when his impressive run through Monument 1 was deleted the St. Albans driver dropped to third, 9.1 seconds behind James.
It was nevertheless a great run by Dan and co-driver Mark Glennerster in only their second event in their new O’Brien Group/Willow Hire Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Mike Brown Jnr clinched victory in the Hockly Motorsport 2WD class. Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins have taken the lead of 2WD, despite losing time when they caught another car on SS2 in their Hartpury Farms/Sparkrite Escort Mk2. The Gloucester driver has also taken the lead of the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge and class W11.
Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver were out in a newly acquired Escort Mk2 for the first time, but it was the different handling and braking characteristics that were harder to get used to than the change of colour from their traditional blue to red.
The Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2 crew quickly acclimatised to the car and after a few tweaks in midday service flew in the afternoon – with second place on the day maintaining their class W9 championship lead.
