Ian Joel takes the B13 title as Hirst retires

Ian Joel wrapped up the B13 title with his third class victory of the season in a rally of attrition in the Dalby Forests.

The Carnforth local, driving his customary Ford Escort Cosworth, staved off a spirited charge from championship rival Matthew Hirst in his Mitsubishi E9 to clinch the title, as Hirst encountered mechanical woes two stages from the end.

Joel had trailed early leader Richard Hill (Subaru Impreza) by just over four seconds ahead of first service but moved into the lead when Hill lost time on SS3.

Local driver Hirst, who ironically has little experience of the Yorkshire stages, showed an improvement in pace after a “really slow” run through Cropton to lie just 9.9 seconds adrift of Joel heading into the second loop.

But the hapless Hirst stopped midway through Staindale, thus giving Joel an easy run through the final test at Langdale to secure the class win and the final place on the Gold Star podium in third.

Daniel Mennell kept his nose clean throughout to complete the podium in his Subaru Impreza, 16 seconds behind Hill.

Craig Cameron finished fourth while a broken differential robbed Peter Baylis (Mitsubish E9) a shot at the podium on SS3.