Last weekends Harry Flatters Rally saw both the Fuchs
British Historic and RAC Asphalt historic series arrive on the notorious Epynt
ranges near Sennybridge for 70 miles of competition.
The Brecon Motor Club event saw a mixture of 95 modern
and historic crews doing battle over the 11 tests, in atrocious conditions.
And it was Damian Cole and local boy Craig Drew who
emerged victorious overall in the modern event in the Get Connected backed Ford
Fiesta WRC, this was Cole's 20th outright win on the ranges, and for Drew who's
taking a mid season break from his Subaru USA commitments, a chance to do a
rare UK event, the winning margin was just 19 seconds from Scots man Alex
Laffey in his Fiesta R5,who was preparing for next month's Ulster Rally.
"Its nice to come and do an event with Damian, and we
just kept our noses in front in such dreadful conditions". Said Drew
"But it was all the marshall's who deserve huge credit today, for sticking
it out in these conditions"
Ian
Skipp with Russell Joseph calling the notes took 19th overall & 5th in
class, in the Vauxhall Astra Alan Marriage/ Colin Jenkins finished 25th &
7th in class in the Dave Jenkins Motorsport run Escort RS In the historic event
there was some great battles between the local crews for top honour's and it
was Simon Tysoe with Ross Motor Club member Paul Morris calling the notes in
the Jondel Engines Escort RS1600,who emerged with that accolade after a trouble
free day, finishing a superb 10th overall, 1st in class and category two victory.
Cinderford duo Jason Gardner & Ade Williams in the
Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS1800 finished 15th overall & 7th in class
despite a bad misfire on stage 6, which
was cured by new set of plugs, just behind them were Ben Friend & Cliffy
Simmons in the Allglass Escort RS, tarmac is not Ben's preferred surface and
they finished 17th overall & 11th in class, just a few seconds behind were
Andy Stokes & Adrian McNally in the Escort RS1600 finishing 18th & 2nd
in class and 2nd in category two.
Ross garage owner Steve Bennett was driving a Ford Escort
on tarmac for the first time in 31 years,his last time was the JJ Brown rally
in North Wales,which was the final ever iconic
Motoring News road rally championship event.
But together with Osian Owen on the notes they held a top
15 position until a broken shaft brought retirement.
The historic event was won by Gareth James/Steff Evans in
the immaculate Escort RS1800
Paul Willetts Motorsport Media
