Williams on track again – now for home event

JAMES Williams got his Motorsport UK British Rally Championship campaign back on track with a fourth-place finish in the latest round of Britain’s premier rallying series.

Following a retirement on the Nicky Grist Stages, Williams, co-driver Dai Roberts and the Hyundai Power Products Rally team were eager to get their championship campaign up and running again.

Scotland is a happy hunting ground for the team as Newcastle Emlyn driver Williams and Bronwydd’s Roberts secured their best result to date with a fine second overall on the Jim Clark Rally in May.

Now in the blistering heat in August, the Grampian Stages played host to the fourth contest of the series.

On the opening stages, the Welshman was in the hunt despite being caught up in lingering dust from previous cars. After the first two stages, the Hyundai i20 R5 driver was fighting at the front, holding equal second just a handful of seconds off the leader.

Brake woes then dented his progress as he dropped down to fifth in the order. In the final two stages, he overcame the mechanical problems that were robbing the Hyundai of its full power.

Throwing caution to the wind, he pushed his way up to fourth, setting top two fastest stage times.

“I am pleased we got to the end of the rally, it was non-stop and incredibly hot,” he said.

“I want to say a massive thanks to my team, the event organisers and all the marshals working in the heat this weekend, allowing us to go rallying.

“To get fourth is bittersweet. I am happy we got to the end but also it was a tale of what could have been.

“I think a podium, perhaps a win, was definitely on the cards with some of the stage times we were putting in.

“But it wasn’t meant to be again.

“We are going to have to move on quickly to prepare for the next round in a few weeks’ time. We head to my home event in Wales next up and we are back on Tarmac.

“The target will be a win as I want to be at the sharp end, giving the championship protagonists something to think about.

“I have been looking forward to Rali Bae all year – I think it will be a pretty special event.”

The next round of the British Rally Championship is in Aberystwyth for the Get Connected Rali Bae Ceredigion on September 3-4.