Rally reports
Organiser: Epynt Motor Club When: August 26 2018 Where: Epynt Ranges, Powys Championships: MSA Asphalt Rally Championship; Welsh National Tarmacadam Championship; King of Epynt Challenge; ANWCC Stage Rally Championship; Senior 1000s Stages: 13 Starters: 70
Following an accomplished drive in treacherous conditions, Jason Pritchard and co-driver Phil Clarke dealt best with the slippery roads over the Epynt Ranges to win the 40th anniversary of the Mewla Rally in their Ford Focus WRC 05.
Second-placed Damian Cole/ Jamie Edwards were left to rue early issues which resulted in them playing catch up in their Ford Fiesta RS WRC, while Daniel Harper/chris Campbell had a good afternoon to finish third in their Mini WRC.
In the torrential rain, Pritchard/ Clarke had a “steady and smooth run” through the opening three tests, setting fastest time on two of the stages to open up a 17-second lead, which he maintained over repeat runs of stages one to three, before dropping a second to Cole on the long stage seven, the Focus driver’s only problem being a misted up windscreen.
Meanwhile, Cole was struggling on the first loop with too hard a suspension set-up. With the car softened, he set fastest time on SS5 before being quickest on stage seven, but only took a second out of the leader in the process.
Harper had a difficult morning in his Mini John Cooper Works WRC, going off on stage three, dropping 30 seconds, only to repeat this on the same bend when run as SS6.
Nonetheless, he held third at the halfway point, ahead of Melvyn Evans/mark Glennerster, who were making their debut in a Hyundai i20 R5, the driver not happy with his early tyre choice and was experimenting with the settings. The surprise of the event were leading historic runners, Daniel Jones/kevin Lewis, who held fifth in their Ford Escort Mk2. Sadly the car refused to start in the afternoon and their day was done.
Over the first loop of afternoon stages, Pritchard/clarke took another two fastest times to extend their lead over Cole to 25 seconds.
With his car set up to his liking, Cole went fastest over SS11 but had to be content with the runners-up spot as Pritchard was second fastest over 11 and 12 before securing his win in style with fastest time on the final stage.
Behind Cole, Harper was obviously getting used to Epynt and, after overcoming power steering problems, some tyre and suspension changes worked well as he set two fastest times. Evans was happy with his new car and spent the event testing different settings with a fourth place earned.
Leading MSA Asphalt contenders, Wayne Sisson/max Freeman, lost time after stalling their Mitsubishi Lancer E10 on stage seven, but held on to their class-winning fifth position. David Morgan/richard Suter survived a couple of big moments to win their class in their Darrian T90.
A throttle sensor slowed Richard Merriman/kath Curzon, but once fixed their Darrian T90 won class B11. The 1400cc class winners were William Mains/claire Williams in 11th, despite broken engine mounts on their Vauxhall Nova.