Welsh driver dies in Dukeries crash

A Welsh amateur rally driver has died and his brother was injured while competing in the national championship Dukeries stage event in Sherwood Forest on Saturday. Martyn Lewis, 32, from Kerry and a member of the Newtown MC, died after his Vauxhall Nova 1400 hit a tree at Harlow Wood, just off the A60 between Ravenshead and Mansfield. Mr Lewis had been competing with his brother, Richard, who was taken to hospital for checks. Clerk of the course Bob Draper said, "Our thoughts are with Martyn's family at this time and I think it is because accidents of this magnitude in rallying are so rare that everyone involved is so upset."

Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez scored a decisive victory on the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally and has moved to the head of the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Championship table. Perez, from Chesterfield, and Welsh co-driver Paul Spooner, were competing on the fifth round of series in their ex-Marcus Gronholm Ford Focus WRC and the pair tied the first stage with championship rivals Andy Burton and Robin Kellard in the Peugeot Cosworth.
Then, despite a spin in stage two, Perez was able to keep Burton in his sights for the next stage. On stage four Burton retired with engine problems leaving the way clear for Perez to claim his third victory on this event equalling the record held by Roger Clark. "This is a very hollow victory for me with the news that Martyn Lewis lost his life competing in a sport we all love. Myself and Paul would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Martyn in this difficult time," said Steve. The next round of the series takes place on 10 July with the Quinton Stages Rally. Result (Provisional) 1, Steve Perez/Paul Spooner - Ford Focus WRC - 0:40:14 2, Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley - Ford Focus WRC - 0:41:09 3, Damian Cole/Craig Drew - Hyundai Accent WRC - 0:41:13 4, Andrew Barnes/Guy Simmons - Ford Focus WRC - 0:42:43 5, Jamie Anderson/Ella Flynn - Mitsubishi Evo 8 - 0:42:43 6, Tristan Pye/Andrew Falconer - Subaru Impreza N15 - 0:43:01 © Image Geoff Mayes

One of the most successful partnerships in the World Rally Championship will end after Phil Mills said he will stand down as co-driver to 2003 title winner Petter Solberg. They have contested over 150 events over eleven years but will now go their separate ways and Mills will focus on developing a motor sport business, including the Viking Motorsport company to build and prepare Mk2 Ford Escorts for use his historic rally competition. “This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make but I feel the time has come to now concentrate on other parts of life,” Mills reflected. “We have competed on 152 WRC events together over the past eleven years and it has become more of a way of life rather than a job".

For the ninth time Audi has won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans and thus equalized Ferrari’s position in the roll of honour in the French endurance classic. Only Porsche’s track record reflects more victories. At the 78th running of the race, the three Audi R15 TDI cars of Audi Sport Team Joest ran without the slightest technical problems over the entire distance and occupied the top three places after the fastest Le Mans race of all time.
After 2000, 2002 and 2004, Audi thus managed to achieve a one-two-three triumph at Le Mans for the fourth time. The victorious Audi R15 TDI with Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France) and Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) completed a total of 397 laps in the 24 hours.