TURNER & GREEN ON TOP AGAIN

The Epynt ranges are challenging enough, without the weather helping out too. But the opening stage of the day once again proved how competitive this years championship is.

Stefan Morris/Jack Bowen’s Ford Escort topped the times by just one second from Andrew Turner/Ross Green’s similar car, while one second behind was Terry Brown/Angharad Williams’ Class D Escort and two down was Tony Davies/Ellie Williams’ Darrian.

It proved to be even closer on SS2 with Morris still a second up on Turner, but he was tied with Brown, while Davies still held fourth, from HOE’s Lucy Wilding, who was co-driving Chris Woodhouse’s Darrian.

Ben Williams/Russell Joseph’s Class D Escort was already out after one stage, “there was a clunk before the start, then with no real warning the diff went after about two miles,” Williams explained.

Back at the front Brown was in trouble too. “We had the same problem before, we had changed a fuel filter and it cut out on the first stage, then on stage three there was a bang and it cut out again. We had missed three and four, but then bypassed the filter and it was OK,” he said.

So after SS3 Morris still led,” we had a big lock up though on oil, but it proved to be our best time,” he reckoned. His lead was now two seconds over Turner, but with Brown in trouble, Davies was into third, but 10 seconds further back, as Woodhouse/ Wilding, Jason/Ceri Evans’ Peugeot 205 Gti and Joe Piggott/John Fellowes’ Saxo were the rest of the top six.

Turner wiped out his deficit in total on the next run, as they were tied for the lead, still 10 seconds up on Davies.

“I think they got quicker, but on the second leg on the Burma Road they both got me. We were lucky too as a wire broke on the alternator as we finished SS5 and we just made it back to service, with SS6 fortunately cancelled,” said Morris.

Turner was out in front by seven seconds from Davies, with Morris a further two seconds back in third. Woodhouse/Wilding were still fourth, but Evans was up to fifth and Ian/Cameron Barclay’s Mitsubishi E9 in sixth, after Piggott’s Saxo retired.

“We were flat out and the oil pump chain went and blew the engine. It had been perfect until then on my first rally here,” said Piggott.

But Turner’s lead began to come down too, three seconds on stage seven, was back to four on stage eight, with just the final run to go.

Turner finally made it home increasing his victory margin to 12 seconds at the finish, with Davies 18 up on third placed Morris. “Really enjoyed that though,” said Morris.

Woodhouse/Wilding retained fourth and won class D. “We were on old tyres on the first four stages, so no temperature and no confidence. Even after new tyres for SS5 we didn’t really get into it,” they explained.

Evans had a great day in his Club Class 205. “We had half of the car in a ditch on SS8, the CV had come loose so we tried to change the driveshaft before the last stage. We couldn’t do it and had to finish with the old one back in,” said Jason.

The Barclay Evo retained sixth and won Class E, while Ryan Wilding/Clive Jones’ Nova finished seventh and topped Class A. “We had struggled on the first four stages on old wets, having a few moments. We got it right from SS5, but stalled on the last stage after an overshoot,” said Wilding.

Following Piggott’s retirement, Gary/Yvonne Powell’s Saxo was next home and won Class B, while Anthony North/James Hood’s Impreza took eighth on a tie break from Harry Pinchin/Colin Jenkins’ Citroen C2.

Both had finished second in Class, North in E and Pinchin in B. “It was wet on stage one, but the Old Man persuaded me to stay on medium tyres and we went straight on at the first corner. After that they we stayed on wets and it was fine,” he said after climbing back from 16th on the opening stage.

Thomas/Paul Alderton’s MG ZR took Kay Thompson/Reece Brookes’ Nissan Micra for second in Class A on stage two, before consolidating.

Thompson then fell behind Owain/Glyn Thomas’ Peugeot 106, finally finishing over a minute off her rivals for fourth in Class. “We just wanted to make sure we finished,” said Kay.

The BMW of Andy Brinkley/Helena Mayall finished in penultimate place and was second in Class D. “We started Ok and then the throttle link broke on SS4. We fixed it but had to take a maximum. Then we had a similar problem twice on the last stage, but still made the finish,” said Andy.

Finally having solved his earlier problems, Terry brought was classified as final finisher, as Andrw Madeley/Caian Williams’ Chevette HSR had retired after two stages.