Successful return for Edwards in Somerset

Swift Group and Holton Homes backed driver Matt Edwards made a successful return to rallying after a 6 month lay-off last weekend, taking 15th overall in his Historic Mk2 Escort, run with support from Geoff Jones Motorsport.

The North Wales Car Club member hadn’t sat in the car which took him to victory on the Trackrod Historic cup in 2012 since the RAC Rally, and had since spent the winter improving the car in an attempt to increase reliability ahead of an RAC Rally Championship assault in 2014, however budget issues restricted his entry to the first two events of the season.

Nevertheless the determined 29 year old was keen to return, and with Will Rogers alongside, the Somerset Stages was set to be a test event to get driver and machine back up to speed. Unfortunately a freak clutch cylinder leak on the opening tarmac test up Porlock Toll Road would leave the pair literally clutching at gears and losing time to the 2wd challengers.

With limited service time available it was only after the second visit were the crew able to restore the use of all three pedals to the car, but were still lying in an impressive 20th overall going into the final loop of stages. As confidence grew mile by mile, a string of fastest two wheel drive stage times followed lifting the pair to 15th overall by the finish in Bridgewater.

Edwards would like to thank Swift Group, Holton Homes, Geoff Jones Motorsport, Extreme Rally, Hankook Tyres, View Creative Agency for their support.