HATS OFF TO GRIFFIN FOR HATSFORD TARGA RALLY SUCCESS

A tough Hatsford Targa Rally was won in comfortable style by Ben Griffin and Peter Littlefield. They took the lead after three of the six tests on the Ledbury based event and moved away from the field to win by almost a minute.

The annual event used 32 miles of complex tests on farm fields. The complexity of the tests led to over 500 test faults being awarded during the day. The event’s challenge was increased by hot and dusty conditions.

Paul Gillard and Adam Bourne were fastest on the first test but accumulated a large number of test faults later in the day and fell down the order. Lewis Ayris and Katie Bleach took the lead after

Test 2, but, with the navigator unwell, lost time on Test 3.

Griffin/Littlefield collected a 30-second missed-manoeuvre penalty on the opening test, but they were fastest on Test 3 and took a lead they weren’t to lose.

Matt and Suze Endean led the chase of the winners and were quickest on the final test but were still 51s behind at the finish.

In the Clubman Rally, Alan and Carol Morgan, familiar with the venue from club autotests, largely avoided picking up any faults and came home well clear of their rivals in the category.

Ian Mills

Results

Hatsford Targa Rally Organiser: Ross & District Motor Sports Club When: August 7 Where: Hatsford, Ledbury Championships: ASWMC & CSMG Tests: 6 (32 test miles) Starters: 59. 1 Ben Griffin/Peter Littlefield (Peugeot 106 Rallye) 77m38s;

2 Matt Endean/Suze Endean

(MG ZR) +51s; 3 Elliott Sharp/Michael Spicer (MG ZR); 4 Lucas Redwood/ Zak Linham (Ford Sierra); 5 Chris

Woolley/Jamie Woolley (BMW E30); 6 Brian Andrews/James Leighton (Peugeot 106XS); 7 Andrew Lees/ Grace Lees (Vauxhall Nova); 8 Alan Morgan/Carol Morgan (Suzuki Swift); 9 John Graham Taylor/

Roger Davidson (MG ZR); 10 Thomas Alderton/Paul Alderton (MG ZR). Class winners: Morgan/Morgan; Lees/Lees; Trevor Disney/Aaron Toms (Ford Focus ST170).