THE Winner Garage Wyedean Stages Rally in association with KGD Services provided a real challenge for racers, but local crews dominated the top 10 and class awards on a tough day in the classic forests of Speech House, Serridge and Maliscot, reports Paul Willetts.

Rain, sleet, and autumn leaves left the gravel roads slippery for the 85 starters who left the Vantage Point start in Mitcheldean on Saturday morning for the 42 miles of competition.

Overall winners of the event, returning after a year off last year, were Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear in the Lancer Evo 9 who were also crowned Welsh National Rally champions for 2019.

Former Welsh champion Alex Allingham and Ross Weir in a new Dave Jenkins Motorsport built Escort RS1800 finished top local crew with second overall 20 seconds back in the Weir rallying, Weotec, Weir Laundry Equipment-backed car,

There was a fantastic three-way battle with the similar cars of Nick Elliott and Welsh youngster Tom Llewellin, but after Elliott retired on stage 5, Allingham pulled away as Llewellin finished third overall.

“It’s been a very good day for us, the car hasn’t missed a beat which is credit to Dave and the team, thanks to everyone involved today.

“It’s not been pleasant for those marshals, we appreciate what you do,” said a delighted Ross Weir

Just behind another four local crews battled it out, with the Griffiths Engineering Escort of Mark Griffiths and Matt Rogers taking fourth overall and first in class, despite a spin and a trip to the scenery in Maliscot.

Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons ended a run of retirements with fifth and first in class in the Allglass Escort RS1800, ahead of the five-day RAC Rally at the end of the month.

“That was one of the the most slippery Wyedeans I’ve ever done, there was zero grip most of the time, but great fun,” said Cliffy.

Tim Freeman and Paul Williams took sixth in the TL Freeman-backed Escort RS1800, while despite an early starter motor problem. fellow locals Jason Gardner and Mike Jode in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS1800 were seventh just 15 seconds back.

Steve Black and Paul Morris seccured aneasy class win and 13th overall in the SBG Group Suzuki Swift, despite an off and a puncture on the final stage.

Roger Matthews had a late change of co-driver with Ryan Taylor stepping in – better known as a driver, being a front runner in the HRCR Mini Cup – and finished 23rd and fourth in class in the RJ Matthews Transport RS1600.

Keith Bounds and Kevin Watkins in only their second event in the Subaru Impreza finished 29th and fourth in class.

Wyedean veterans Eric Davis and Russ Joseph lit up the stages in the Dennis Motorsport Mini GT. Drybrook driver Davis nearly didn’t make the start after engine issues saw some late nights, but finished 32nd and sixth in class.

Husband and wife James and Kelly Dunkley in the Dunkley Auto Services Vauxhall Corsa had a big moment early on at Speech House after hitting a bank, but Kelly then got a swishy stick and made James behave, and they were rewarded with 34th overall and first in class.

Just 12 seconds behind in 35th were Lee Trueman and Sam Hughes in the ME Damsell-backed Subaru in Sam’s first ever rally.

Cinderford duo Paul Simmonds and Mark Wheeler finished 38th and 8th in class in the Signs by Samurai Mk 1 Escort, eight seconds up on Tim Truman and Dave Troughton in 40th overall and fifth in class in the Focus ST.

Ken Davis with Alan Jones on the notes, in the beautiful KGD Services Volvo Amazon escaped a brush with the undergrowth in stage one, but survived to finish 48th and third in class.

Top lady driver on her first rally was Beth Harris with Matt Nicholas beside in her Peugeot 1.6 GTI, placing 51st and fourth in class.

Mark Christopher and Ryan Gibson were one place back and fifth in class in the Forest Auto Salvage Citroen C2.

On his first gravel rally young Luke Watts walked away with first in class guided by the experienced Colin Jenkins in their 1.0 Toyota Yaris.

The Escort RS of Mike Truman and Martha Howells took 56th and fourth in class in another ME Damsell-backed car, and eight seconds back were rally debutants Dan Troughton and Jonathan Griffiths in the 1200 Hyundai i20 in 57th and second in class

After breaking a shaft less than a mile into stage one, husband and wife duo Nigel and Karen Jenkins, returned via the super rally rule for the final three tests, to set some impressive times in their Nova, finishing 59th and second in class.

Nigel Drew and Pauline Nash in the Subaru Impreza had a storming run to lie sixth overall after the morning loop, but a heavy roll on stage four ended their rally early.

The first three cars overall were all run by local preparation expert Dave Jenkins Motorsport, an exceptional feat in motorsport circles.

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