ROAD RALLY ROUND-UP
Victory on the Powys Lanes gave Kevin Davies/ Dale Bowen two wins in successive weekends in the Welsh Road Rally Championship, however unlike last week’s Cilwendeg win, this wasn’t a clear-cut triumph.
At the halfway point it appeared that the night would go the way of many previous events with Davies/ Bowen having built up a healthy lead of 27 seconds. However, in the second half, they just failed to make their time at a control timed to the minute, in contrast two of their nearest rivals reached the control on schedule; the one minute difference in penalty was critical.
Reian Jones/cadog Davies took the lead at this point and appeared initially to have won the rally. Unfortunately they had failed to get a code board counter signed, the fail for this offence dropped them down the order.
Kevin ‘Penclaw’ Jones/alan James also cleaned the vital section and finished the rally just three seconds behind the winners. Andy Davies/ Michael Gilbey took third, which was enough to secure the Welsh Drivers’ title for Davies in his Subaru Impreza; the first time a four-wheel-drive car has won the Welsh Road Rally Championship. Gilbey had wrapped up the co-driver’s title on the Cilwendeg.
Results
Organiser: Epynt Motor Club When: November 3/4 Where: Mid-wales Championships: WAMC, ANWCC & ASWMC Route: 120 Miles Starters: 75. 1 Kevin Davies/ Dale Bowen (Ford Escort) 6m26s; 2 Kevin ‘Penclaw’ Jones/alan James (Toyota Corolla) +3s; 3 Andy Davies/ Michael Gilbey (Subaru Impreza); 4 Dewi ‘Dai’ Davies/ Nathan Davies (Vauxhall Astra); 5 Mark Lennox/ Ian Beamond (Escort); 6 Steve Knibbs/ Gerwyn Barry (Proton Satria); 7 Paul Morgan/jamie Mills (Honda Civic); 8 Chris Hand/aled Richards (Ford Cortina); 9 Steve Davies/ Matthew Maidment (Escort); 10 Daniel Williams/ Shaun Richards (BMW 318Ti).
Class winners: Jones/james; Williams/ Richards; Owain Llywelyn Morgans/ Daniel Reid (Ford Fiesta ST).