After the disappointment of not starting the Somerset Stages, it was do or die for Roger Chilman & Bryan Thomas (Impreza WRC) on the Plains. They took the lead on stage one from Dave Wright & Michael Wilkinson (Evo IX) by 2 seconds and built on that through the event to win by 12 seconds, in the end. Wright held on to 2nd place too with Euan Thorburn & Paul Beaton (Focus WRC) making the rare trip down South to pick up third, 5 seconds further back. On paper the rally looked routine but the battle had been intense all day and absorbing to watch. Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank (Focus WRC) retired mid event with gearbox issues whilst Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Focus WRC) effectively ended their championship chances with an excursion on the first stage, even though they did finish down in 20th overall.
In the 2WD a large and impressive field had collected for the rally to see a titanic battle at the top. Ieuan Rowlands & Em Hall (Escort MkII) eventually winning out by 9 seconds from Nick Elliott & Dave Price (Escort MkII) who were ‘running in’ a customers car, apparently! Osian Pryce & Iestyn Williams (DS3 R3) mixed up the usual RWD Escort MkII battle to come home 3rd, just under half a minute back. Top seeds Will Onions & Dave Williams (Escort MkII) were early casualties crashing out on the first stage along with Guy Woodcock & Graham Dance (Escort MkII) who had an unusual off just after our position.
Justin Lawson & Paul Hargreaves (Nova) took victory in the 1400’s just over half a minute, breaking the dominance of Julian Wilkes & Will Rutherford-Child (Nova). Wilkes was 2nd but what looked like a formality to most external observers now looked like game on as Wilkes was finally beaten in 2012. Lawson will now need to carry this forward into the Dukeries to see if this is more than just a blip though. Clive Anstey & Annabel Sealey (Satria) were a distant third almost 2 minutes further back.
90right UK Rallying 