There was a mixed bag of results for local crews on last weekend’s Get Jerky Rally North Wales with silverware for some and disappointment for others, writes Paul Willetts.
The event was round two of the Fuchs British Historic Rally Championship and opening round of the Pirelli Welsh National championship.
The rally returned to its former base in Welshpool but the event format remained the same,with two loops in the Dyfi and Dyfnant complex where heavy rain had made the forestry roads incredibly slippery
Geoff Phelps and Colin Jenkins opened their Welsh championship campaign in the best possible way with an excellent class win in the Hartpury Farms Escort RS1800.
A trouble-free day and more aggressive start paid dividends with 15th overall and first in class.
Graham Thatcher and Tim Samuel in the awesome-sounding PVM backed TR7 V8 had a good run to finish 29th overall and third in class.
A failed wiper motor forced the retirement for the RS1600 of Jonathan Brace and Paul Spooner in the Braces Bread car.
It was a bad day at the office for local crews in the Historic event.
Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons were hoping to build on their rfirst round result in the Allglass Anglia Escort RS1800.
But with no brakes for the opening loop and languishing down in 16th place at service, they decide to retire and save the car.
It was real sting in the tail for Ross garage owner Steve Bennett on his first event in a long while together with Osian Owen.
They gradually worked their way up the leaderboard as the day progressed and held a strong sixth place going into the last test in Dyfnant but Steve ripped a wheel off and had to retire, a sad end to an excellent drive.