Former Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Champion Connor McCloskey led the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages from start to finish but it’s Andy Davies who heads the 2017 title chase after three points scoring events.
McCloskey and co-driver John Rowan reported a trouble free run through the event’s seven stages in their Ford Fiesta World Rally car and their victory elevates the Irish duo to joint third place in the Championship standings.
A close fought battle for second place was waged between the R5+ specification Ford Fiesta of Martyn and Dawn England and Dylan Davies and Llion Williams in their Subaru Impreza. A spin for the Fiesta on the penultimate stage allowed the Impreza to move ahead but a fastest stage time on the final test snatched the runner up spot back for the West Country couple
While Davies shares third place in the Championship with Connor McCloskey, fourth place on the event was enough to ensure that Andy Davies and co-driver Max Freeman lead the overall championship and the Group N category for less modified cars.Rally
Their closest rivals in both the overall and Group N championship are Surrey driver Wug Utting and co-driver Bob Stokoe who finished the event fifth overall and second in Group N. They trail the series leaders by nine points.
Sixth place for the Ford Escort of David and James Young moves the Norfolk pairing into the lead of the two wheel drive category. There was disappointment for another two wheel crew when the Rudi Lancaster and Guy Weaver slid off the road on loose gravel on the second stage of the event and were forced to retire their Ford Escort.
The Ravenol Welsh Challenge awards drivers points based on their performance within their class and it is Andy Davies who also leads that while second place is shared by BMW driver Colin Griffiths and Martin Walters in his Honda Civic.
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