Hunter Draws First Blood

The early lead in the 2015 Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship went to NWCC member Hugh Hunter as the Ruthin driver claimed maximum points on the opening round, the Chepstow based Wyedean Rally. Hugh and Cheshire based co-driver Andy Marchbank reported mid event that they lacked confidence in the handling of their Subaru Impreza but were able to improve matters at the lunchtime service halt and make it to the end of the event while several of their close rivals fell by the wayside.

Among those to hit problems was reigning champion Alex Allingham. The Northwich driver, and co-driver Alun Cook from Caerphilly, were forced out after just two of the eight stages with electrical problems on their Subaru. Even that was further than the unfortunate Jim McNeil and Tony Bassett. They suffered a broken throttle cable on the opening stage. Despite an ingenious repair to their RAVENOL Rally Team Impreza involving a shoe lace they dropped too much time to continue.

Entries for the event were oversubscribed with championship registrations also up on 2014, competitors citing regular TV coverage of the series as a key attraction.

Second place went to Malvern driver Bob Ceen partnered by Andy Bull of Birmingham in his Impreza World Rally Car. They were delighted to even be in the top 10 with this being Bob’s first outing in more than 12 months and their first rally together since the start of the 2013 season.

In addition to taking third place in their Impreza, Worcester duo Paul Davy and Roger Allen claimed maximum points in Group N, for less modified cars. Elsewhere in Group N, Haverfordwest’s Roland Llewellin and co-driver Jamie Edwards from Wrexham were sidelined with one stage of the rally remaining when their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX suffered fuel pressure problems.

Meanwhile, fourth place for Jason Morgan, co-driven in his Evo VI by Conwy’s Dan Nieroda, gives the Cinderford driver the lead in the Junior category for drivers under 25. Irishman Jordan Hone lies second in the junior category ahead of Cardiff’s Morgan Hanford.

Llanon’s Dylan Davies and co-driver Llion Williams of Caernarfon completed the top 5 in the overall standings while top two wheel drive honours went to Hereford’s Jon Ballinger and Mike Wilding of Tenbury Wells in their Opel Manta.

In the newly launched RAVENOL Welsh Challenge which enables competitors in every class to share in a prize pot valued at £3000, Jason Morgan shares the lead with Thomas Lloyd of Port Talbot and Ludlow’s David Brick.

Special Stage Extra’s coverage of the event is scheduled to appear on Motors TV on March 4th while the next round of the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship is the Newtown based Mid Wales Stages which takes place on St David’s Day, March 1st. You can find out more about the event on their web site, www.midwalesstages.co.uk and about the Championship on www.wnrc.wamc.org.uk, on the Championship Facebook page and on Twitter @WnRC.