Payne targets GB after BTRDA Gold Star title

Newly crowned BTRDA champion Charlie Payne could head to Wales Rally GB after scoring the Gold Star title and a free entry to the national event on last weekend’s Woodpecker Rally.

Payne finished third, after “throttling back” when he saw Luke Francis off the road in SS2 of the event. The Welshman had been Payne’s only real title threat but needed a finish to stay in the hunt. He rolled at a hairpin.

Now Payne could target a trip to GB with co-driver Carl Williamson.

“We would do the national as we get a free entry with winning the title,” said Yorkshireman Payne. “It wants looking at because it’s a good trip down there. Then we’ll do Malton and see where we are. Obviously we need to do some work on the car first after a tough year this year.”

Payne has been considering scaling back his rallying in 2017, but will make a more conclusive decision in the coming months.

A host of other BTRDA class champions were crowned after the Woodpecker Rally.

Cameron Davies became the inaugural ST Trophy champion with co-driver Lee Taylor, after the pair won every round they entered apart from the Woodpecker, which they needed to finish to take the title.

Bob Vardy sealed the B10 class in the same Ford Fiesta R2 that won the championship last year in the hands of Rhys Yates. Dave Forrest and Charlie Carter have won class H2.