JAMES WINS AGAIN AFTER 13 YEARS
It was 13 years since Huw James was a winner at Weston Park but, with Ian Jones on the notes, their Escort had an eight-second lead over nine-time winner Oliver Davies/Ben Innes on the opening stage.
It was desperately close behind however with Gary Thomas/Ben Ruff and Ryan Fagan/Jordan Joines tied for third.
While James added another 10s to his lead on stage two, Davies was struggling to get traction off the start and ended the stage joint second with Thomas.
Fagan had a spin and stalled in the courtyard, which moved Aled Wyn Morgans/Mark Rodway’s Ford Escort into fourth, from Steve North/John Pickavance’s Escort and Andy Corner/Ade Camp’s Peugeot 205, but only four seconds covered fourth to eighth.
Over the next two stages James’ lead had climbed to a massive 28s, while the pursuing duo of Davies and Thomas managed to consolidate their positions too.
On stage three Thomas went ahead in the fight for second by one second after Davies stalled but, with a slight grassy excursion from Thomas on the next run, roles were reversed but still with a one-second gap.
Morgans spun on stage four, which allowed Fagan and North to move up and left him tied for sixth with Corner.
With James continuing to set the pace, he finally eased up after a slight off on stage seven when he reversed into fence, but was still 25s clear at the finish to record a dominant victory.
Davies just managed to keep Thomas at bay for second with two seconds to spare, while in fourth North had been able to consolidate too during the second half.
Morgans retained fifth ahead of a three-way battle for Class C, in which Gareth Bevan/Dafydd Evans managed to get ahead of Corner from stage seven to seal the class win and sixth overall.
Having been plagued all day with brake problems, Corner’s Peugeot was the only non-Ford Escort in the top 10 with Tom Llewellin/Jack Bowen and Steve Harkness/Dan Petrie completing the frontrunners.
Despite a spin, cut out, misfire and brake issues on the opening stage, Tom Bishop/Isobel Mansell’s Vauxhall Nova led Class A all day, taking victory by over three minutes from Adam Philpotts/Graham McDougall’s Micra.
In Class B Martin Lasper/Rhys Edward’s Vauxhall Nova led until stage four, when Mat Wheeler/Adam Lawman’s Citroen C2 went a second clear, but power steering problems for Wheeler handed the lead back to Lasper and a two-second victory. Results
Organiser: Owen MC When: March 20
Where: Weston Park, Shropshire
Championships: AWMMC Heart of England Stages:10 Starters: 75.
1 Huw James/Ian Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) 21m56s; 2 Oiiver Davies/Ben Innes (Ford Escort Mk2) +25s; 3 Gary Thomas/Ben Ruff (Ford Escort Mk2); 4 Steve North/John Pickavance (Ford Escort Mk2); 5 Aled Wyn Morgans/Mark Rodway (Ford Escort Mk2); 6 Gareth Bevan/Dafydd Evans (Ford Escort Mk2); 7 Andy Corner/Ade Camp (Peugeot 205 Gti); 8 Tom Llewellin/Jack Bowen (Ford Escort Mk2); 9 Steve Harkness/Dan Petrie (Ford Escort Mk2); 10 Ryan Fagan/Jordan Joines (Ford Escort Mk2). Class winners: Tom Bishop/Isobel Mansell (Vauxhall Nova); Martin Lasper/Rhys Edwards (Vauxhall Nova); Bevan/Evans; James/Jones.