AN EARLY EXIT FOR WILLIAMS
THE third round of the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship was to be an unlucky affair for James Williams and the Hyundai Power Products Rally team.
The dusty, gravel roads of the Nicky Grist Stages, which held a great deal of hope, were to bring the first retirement of the year for the outfit.
Following breakthrough podiums on the asphalt in the opening two rounds of the British Rally Championship, Newcastle Emlyn driver Williams and co-driver Dai Roberts set about continuing their run as the championship moved to the gravel stages around Builth Wells.
But the rally didn’t start on the right foot as the car was running down on power on the opening stage. A cleaner run on the second test saw Williams move into the podium fight before intercom failure slowed progress.
Roberts had to use a series of hand gestures to assist in the direction and severity of the corners ahead. Despite losing vital seconds, the Welsh crew held fourth at the mid-event service.
With the event so short – just 45 miles in length – making up time on the top two was a big ask, so a podium finish would have been a solid outcome.
The opening stage of the final loop saw the return of the power problems, this time with a faulty turbo valve restricting the fourwheel-drive Hyundai’s performance with horsepower dropping by more than a third.
Williams had to fully commit and carry as much speed through every corner, putting pressure on himself and the car. But at the end of SS7 with just one stage to go, the suspension of the Hyundai cried enough with the strut coming through the bonnet of the i20.
A retirement with one stage to go on home soil was a bitter pill for Williams and Roberts to swallow.
“Today just wasn’t our day,” said a disappointed Williams.
“The event went from bad to worse and we are gutted it ended in this way.
“We can take positives from this, we were able to overcome things that came in our way and importantly we never gave up until it wasn’t possible.
“I would like to thank the whole team, family and sponsors who came to support one of our local events. I am gutted I couldn’t bring home another podium for them.
“But we shake ourselves off and go again.
“We are still in a strong position and there are still another four rounds of the championship remaining.
“We will be seeking the champagne again next time.”
Williams and the team now travel to Scotland for the Grampian Forest Rally – round four of the British Championship – on August 13.