HEAVY snow posed the inevitable question of whether or not to abandon this year's Wyedean special stages for participant and spectator safety.

But ahead it went – creating the chance for local hero Nik Elsmore to clock up win number two and chase the hat-trick secured by his father Graham in 1975-77.

It was only through the grit and determination of the organisers, Forest of Dean Motor Club, that the event took place. Overnight snow on Thursday made travel of any sort through the area very difficult and, by breakfast time on Friday, the situation was not looking good at all.

However, some minor alterations to the schedule and the deployment of a snow plough through the special stages saw 160 crews take the start at Chepstow Racecourse on Saturday morning.

Nik and co-driver Craig Drew brought their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9 to the finish at Chepstow Racecourse ahead of the similar car of Daniel Barry and Martin Brady.

2008 winners Andy Burton and Shelley Rogerson (Peugeot Cosworth) led for the first couple of stages but then lost half a minute to the eventual winners on the run through Speech House and were unable to make up the deficit before the finish.

Nigel Griffiths and Robin Kellard (Subaru Impreza) and Thomas Nughton and Horace Saville (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) were fourth and fifth respectively, while Yorkshire crew Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley rounded off the Top Six in another Lancer.

Two-wheel drive honours went to the Ford Escort RS of Mick Jones and Dale Furniss, ahead of Irishmen Adrian Hetherington and Gary Nolan in their larger-engined version. Third went to the Vauxhall Nova of Julian Wilkes and Andy Ballantyne who also dominated the 1,400cc category with a winning margin of five-and-a-half minutes! Contenders for the small-engined classes run at the front of the field and the going, especially early in the day, was slippery to say the least!

The Wyedean was the first round of the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, of which their Rally First initiative is becoming an increasingly important constituent part. Some 20 crews had entered in their up-to-1,400cc cars to which limited modifications are permitted and it was last year's second-placed co-driver Chris Jones, who has swapped seats for the new season, coming out on top in his Nissan Micra. The Daihatsu Sirion of Peter Scott and Graham Dance was next, with 2008 champion Jason Hopkins (VW Lupo) third.

Retirements, although lower than might reasonably be expected on such a day, included event sponsor Damian Cole who's Hyundai Accent WRC went out on the opening stage with engine failure and Isle of Wight resident Will Nicholls was on his way back to catch the return ferry earlier than he expected after finding his Subaru Impreza WRC too much of a handful without a supply of the necessary snow tyres.

Only two entrants were stopped by badly-placed trees.