DARRIANS DOMINATE AT THE FRONT ON LLANBEDR ENCOUNTER

The top placings in the 2022 Harlech Stages were a reversal of the 2021 results, with Gareth Edwards and Tim Nunn, who’d finished second last year, coming out on top, with previous winners Gethin ‘Dot’ Davies/Ben Ruff having to settle for the runner-up spot.

The event started badly for Edwards/Nunn as a wrong tyre choice on the opening stage meant that they were too cautious and were only third fastest on the test. Quickest time went to Davies/Ruff, who had Wayne ‘Tar’ Jones/ Rhys Jones close behind.

It was the latter crew who took fastest time and the lead on stage two, as Edwards/Nunn improved and moved to second, dropping Davies/Ruff to third.

At this point it appeared that the fight for the win would be between the two Darrian GTR crews, with Edwards/Nunn snatching the lead from Jones/ Jones on SS3. However, on

SS4 Jones/Jones were out, their Darrian’s newly rebuilt engine failed.

From that point on the eventual winners eased away from the field and came home a minute and a half clear.

Davies/Ruff maintained their pace but were fortunate to reach the end as their steering broke on the penultimate stage; they used a rachet strap to hold the parts together but heard this snap shortly before the finish. With relief, they crawled to the final control to secure second place. The top three was completed by the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas.

After SS2 the top five positions were all held by Darrians, but Jason Wilson/Lee

Wilson retired with a failed gearbox after SS3, and Dai ‘Dot’ Davies/Gerwyn James had to withdraw with the driver unwell after SS4.

Both William Mains/Jonathan Davies, in the 1400 Class, and John Lewis/Merfyn Williams (Darrian T9), in the 1600s, took dominant category wins, leading throughout the day and beating their rivals by minutes.

Results

Organiser: Harlech & District Motor Club When: October 16 Where: Llanbedr Airfield Championships: WAMC & ANWCC Stages: 6 Starters: 62.

1 Gareth Edwards/Tim Nunn (Darrian T90 GTR+) 58m50s; 2 Gethin ‘Dot’ Davies/Ben Ruff (Darrian T90) +1m28s; 3 Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4 Dave Roberts/Nigel Perkins (Ford Escort); 5 Oliver Davies/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Escort); 6 Berwyn Evans/Mari Haf Evans (Ford Escort); 7 Greg Williams/ Lauren Hewitt (Subaru Impreza); 8 Adam Williams/ Rachael Atherton (Subaru Impreza); 9 Gareth Hughes/ Ifan Devine (Ford Escort); 10 John Lewis/Merfyn Williams (Darrian T9). Class winners: Will Turnbull/ Owain Thomas (Nissan Micra); William Mains/Jonathan Davies (Vauxhall Nova); Lewis/Williams; Davies/Ruff; Roberts/Perkins; Taylor/Thomas; Sam Mason/James Seymour (Suzuki Alto).