The Hirefit Brawdy Stages at the military base above Newgale Beach in Pembrokeshire brought another win for Fowden Motorsport last Sunday.
This time it was Paul Fowden at the wheel of the Comline Auto Parts backed Subaru Impreza WRC.
He and team co-driver Paul Wakely set fastest time on all of the six stages to emerge with a winning margin of one minute thirteen seconds, at the fog shrouded venue, that delayed the start due to the poor visibility, a wise precaution by organisers Pembroke MC.
The Comline car started the event as a test of a newly built gearbox, as well as an opportunity for Paul to defend a previous win, and though the opposition – led by fellow PTMC driver Carl O’Grady in his Bowyer Power – Bodyshop Nissan Sunny F2, co-driven by Ellie Williams – fought back to second overall and the class win, the Comline Impreza WRC was never going to be beaten.
Local men Corbett Williams / John Morgan were out in an Escort RS but retired after stage four with mechanical problems, as were third seeds Ian Kenvin/Phil Williams, Thomas Cooper and Paul Williams moving up to third and class win in the No.1 Homes Mitsubishi Evo 8 after a battle with the Darrian T9 of John Lewis /Jason Thomas, the margin seventeen seconds.
Fowden was steadily moving ahead throughout, the team also evaluating tyre compounds and differential settings successfully. Thirty five crews made the finish in the tricky conditions, Shaun Price and Louise Evans unlucky to retire their new Subaru Impreza on stage five with wheel bearing failure, Shaun back after a thirteen year absence from the sport.
Class victories also went to the James / Harries Peugeot, the Lewis / Thomas Darrian T9 – also in fourth overall, Mains / Griffiths in a Vauxhall Corsa, Taylor / Rees taking their class by just four seconds in the Escort RS, Rossiter / Davies also Ford mounted and over three minutes to the good.
Top ten:
1 Paul Fowden Paul Wakely Subaru WRC 4 – 01.11.11
2 Carl O’Grady Ellie Williams Nissan Sunny F2 – 01.12.24
3 Thomas Cooper Paul Williams Mitsubishi EVO 8 – 01.14.52
4 John Lewis Jason Thomas Darrian T9 – 01.15.09
5 Jayran Lewis Elian Lewis Vauxhall Astra – 01.16.27
6 Darren James Dyland Jones Mitsubishi EVO 6 – 01.17.18
7 Tony Rendell Lisa Simeone Escort Mk 1 – 01.17.56
8 Alex Rossiter Ian Davies Escort Mk1 – 01.18.02
9 Wayne James Stuart Harries Peugeot 205 Gti – 01.18.05
10 Alun Griffiths Peter James Mitsubishi Evo 6 – 01.18.39
© Words Roger Gale and image VGpics