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Pre-event favourites Ieuan Rowlands/ Emyr Hall didn’t disappoint as they secured victory in the Silver Star category, finishing in seventh place overall in their Ford Escort Mk 2.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for Ieuan’s brother, John, who dropped from the B11 class lead following clutch problems on his Escort Mk2.
B11 honours instead went to the in-formmax Utting/mike Ainsworth, who took their second BTRDA class win in a row and second in the Silver Star. Alterations to the tracking on their Ford Fiesta ST Max worked well, the pair overcoming brake problems, which resulted in them making contact with a couple of chicanes.
The day didn’t start well for Owen Mcmackin/barry Ferris, who damaged the front corner of their Escort Mk2 after clipping a bale on a first stage hairpin. Like many other crews, they found more grip through the Gartheiniog tests and finished the day second in class to Ieuan Rowlands and third in Silver Star.
Andy Davidson and Tommurphy made a good start, only to suffer a twowheel moment on the second stage in their Talbot Sunbeam. Nonetheless they were equal third with Rob Dennis/ Simon John Rogers, who decided to adopt a steady approach in their Escort.
A stage-five spin would ultimately prove costly for Davidson, who dropped behind Dennis to third, and with the pair evenly matched, the Sunbeam driver had to be content with third in class, as Dennis, who found the afternoon’s tests slippery, took the runner-up spot in B11. Fifth in Silver Star behind Dennis went to Chris Powell/jim Lewis, leading home Davidson. Powell/lewis took another 1400cc class win in their Talbot Sunbeam.
Mixing it with the Silver Star crews were Rudi Lancaster/guy Weaver who enjoyed the stages, although their Ford Escort suffered with a loss of grip on the later stages, but still took second historic behind Nick Elliott.
The Fiesta ST Trophy title fight is wide open after Kalvin Green/osian Owen became the third winners in as many rounds. Previous round winner James Giddings took second while opening round winner Zak Hughes failed to finish.