Melvyn
Evans in his Subaru Impreza S11 made his intentions abundantly clear last
weekend with a convincing victory on the Fix Auto Swansea Tour of Epynt, the
first round of the 2009 Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.
The Llanwrda driver's Subaru Impreza WRC
set a blisteringly fast time on the opening stage of the Port Talbot MC event, 16s quicker than
his nearest rival, and followed it up with five more to maintain a lead that
had built up to more than a minute-and-a half by the finish.
Second was the Darrian T90 GTR of fellow
Welshman John Dalton, he and Gwynfor Jones also winning their class, whilst defending
MSA Asphalt Champions, David Kynaston / Andy Russell were 3rd
overall in their Audi A3 Quattro - the pair breaking Evans' run of FTDs to go
quickest on the final stage. The result sees Russell at the head of the
Co-drivers' table at this early stage.
Another Welshman - Damian Cole - took
fourth in his "Get Connected" Hyundai
Accent WRC, with the experienced guidance of Martin Henry as co-driver, and 2008
giant-killers Simon Mauger / Brian Cammack were back in their Ford Escort MkII
and took 5th overall, in amongst some very impressive four-wheel
drive company, an opening round result that would seem to indicate that they
intend a repeat performance this year. Bridgend man Peter Lloyd got no further
than the third stage in his Subaru WRC, a puncture dropping him out of
contention and into retirement.
Former National Gravel Champions David Mann
/ Alun Cook, starting their second season of asphalt events, brought their
Impreza WRC home in 6th place, one ahead of the Hyundai Accent WRC
of 2007 Asphalt Champion Steve Simpson, co-driven by Patrick Walsh, the pair having
a hectic time just getting to the start on Epynt. Contesting the
Blackpool-based North West Stages the previous day, the car had retired with
ominous noises coming from - it was thought - the gearbox.
The whole team travelled from Blackpool to
their workshops in Grimsby to effect a gearbox change from Simpson's gravel
specification car. However, the problem did not go away and further ‘swopping'
from one car to the other was necessary before they were able to begin crossing
the country once again as they headed for the start in Llandovery !
Along with John Stone / Lee Carter, Mark
Jasper and Don Whyatt now form part of a very smart two-car team of MG Metro
6R4s prepared by Legend Motorsport. Unfortunately, the Stone car was forced out
with clutch failure, but Jasper's version finished an excellent 8th
overall.
The 2008 Richard Egger Insurance BTRDA
Asphalt Rally Series champions Chris Jones and Richard Williams carried on
where they left off with 9th place - and top Series points - in
their Ford Focus STI. 2007 winners, Adrian Spencer and Mark Hewitt were back
for more and their Subaru Impreza was next up less than a minute behind. The
signs are that we are in for a good fight before this year's winners are
identified !
Meanwhile, in addition to John Stone/Lee
Carter, the list of those local drivers for whom Epynt was not the happiest of
events included Washington James/Dai
Roberts, making a comeback to a National Championship in the Darrian T90
GTR after some twenty years away, the Welsh built car retired with damaged rear
suspension on stage four, whilst in ninth overall.
The driver has the distinction of winning
the first ever rally he competed on in the 1960's - never having driven on an
event before - teamed with another Welsh rallying legend, co-driver Hywel
Thomas, but was out of luck last week-end.
Ford Escort drivers Mark Solloway and
Graham Hollis were two more aces to drop out of the pack, with engine and
steering problems respectively, whilst Swansea man Brian Davies retired his
Toyota Corolla on the fourth stage after breaking a shock absorber.
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