EDWARDS TAKES THE BATTLE OF ANGLESEY BY A SECOND
A mere second separated the top two crews after two days and fourteen stages of the Glyn Memorial Rally, with Gareth Edwards/Tim Nunn fending off a late charge from Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff.
The eight Saturday stages were run in cold but dry conditions and at the end of them Edwards/Nunn (Darrian GTR+) had built up a lead of 46 seconds, having led from the start. Last year’s winners, Hughes/Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5), had struggled with finding the correct tyre choice during the day but were in second.
Rain started to fall on Sunday morning and the Fiesta started to eat into the Darrian’s advantage. After SS12, the gap was down to five seconds but SS13 proved a dramatic one. On a greasy surface Hughes spun his car on to the grass and struggled to regain the Tarmac. At almost exactly the same time, Edwards spun and stalled his Darrian. Remarkably they both posted the same time on the test and remained five seconds apart with one stage left.
On the final test, Hughes took fastest time but Edwards was only four seconds behind and claimed the win by the narrowest of margins. Barry Morris made an overnight journey from Ireland, as he and co-driver Dafydd Evans came off the reserve list to take the start. They were another crew to indulge in a spin on the treacherous SS13 but survived to take a clear third place.
Fourth place was sufficient for Wayne Jones to secure the Welsh Tarmac title, although partner Jonathan Davies, had to concede the co-drivers’ crown to John Davies, who finished in seventh with Dave Willett.
David Burden led the Glyn
Memorial Junior Rally for the first 11 stages, but Oliver Phillips had never been far behind and took the lead on SS12, then cantered away to win by 22s. Burden, who had already secured the English Championship and sold the car in which he was competing, decided not to fight the issue. Results
Organiser: Caernarvonshire & Anglesey Motor Club When: November 19-20 Where:
Trac Mon Championships: WAMC & ANWCC Stages: 14 Starters: 83.
1 Gareth Edwards/Tim Nunn (Darrian GTR+) 81m34s; 2 Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5) +1s; 3 Barry Morris/Dafydd Evans (Darrian T90 GTR+); 4 Wayne Jones/Jonathan Davies (Darrian GTR); 5 Roger Moran/Den Golding (Skoda Fabia R5); 6 Jason Wilson/Lee Wilson (Darrian T90 GTR); 7 Dave Willett/John Davies (Ford Escort); 8 Chris Simmons/Andy Moss (Darrian T90 GTR); 9 Berwyn Evans/Mari Hâf Evans (Escort); 10 Mike Taylor/Louise Gilks (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus). Class winners: Jonathan Davies/Chris Row (Vauxhall Corsa); Sion Jones/Gethin Williams (Citroen Saxo); Wilson/Wilson; Hughes/Cunniff; Oliver Phillips/Barry Young (VW Up).