Welsh contingent topped by Francis/roberts

Luke Francis paired BTRDA honours with maximum points in the Welsh championship as the series is almost out of reach for his rivals.

Navigator John H Roberts secured the overall co-driver honour with the result, but Wug Utting still has a mathematical chance of overturning Francis, although it’s unlikely with two rounds to go.

Francis benefitted from the demise of some of his closest title rivals. Dylan Davies went out early on with a broken fuel pump on his Subaru Impreza, while Andy Davies suffered a broken ball joint on his similar car which forced him off the road.

Martyn and Dawn England were the second Welsh-registered crew on the event behind Francis as they continue a programme of limited events in their new two-litre Ford Fiesta R5.

Rounding out the podium was Gavin Edwards and Caron Tomlinson, who took BTRDA Silver Star honours. The pairing weren’t expecting such a strong result and their brilliant year continues.

Utting took fourth, and in the process tops the Group N championship ahead of Davies.

One driver did seal a title on the event. Pwllheli’s Andrew Jones secured the Vital Equipment Welsh Junior Championship and moved up to second overall in the Welsh championship as a result. Martin Griffiths also sealed Class 7 overall co-driver.