Free Press Sport
Wyedean rally competitors slip and slide in the snow
2:38pm Wednesday 15th February 2012
Snow had fallen in The Forest of Dean prior to the start of the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally, and although not deep, ice had formed in the tracks of the stages making the going difficult for the 180 cars starting from Chepstow Racecourse last Saturday morning.
It was a day when the more powerful cars had difficulty getting the power down and the smaller engined cars were getting the best traction. It was difficult to stand on some of the stages let alone drive.
The conditions saw the demise of some of the top runners but Charlie Payne and co driver Craig Thorley brought their Ford Focus WRC home in first position some three minutes ahead of Shaun Gardener and Ben Innes in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 5.
An incredible drive by Julian Wilkes and Will Rutherford in their 1400 cc Vauxhall Nova resulted in third overall. This also gave them the class win for the fourth year running the crew performing some ice skating antics on the frozen stages.
Local crews had a bad day. Steve Perez and Paul Spooner had started pre event favourite in their Ford Focus WRC but started with an off on stage one.
They then set fastest time on stage two which was followed by another off on stage three.
After the service halt at Chepstow they started stage four but left the road damaging the suspension and removing a front wheel.
This was the end of their event after lying second overall at one point.
In the historic section of the event the rear wheel drive Ford Escorts had difficulty in obtaining traction so Stuart Clarke and Andy Ballantyne called it a day at service not wishing to cause possible damage to their pristine Escort. At this point the crew were leading their class.
Sean Edwards from Pontypool and Gavin Haycock also retired their Rally Weld backed Ford Escort after service when 6th in the class that they won on last year's championship.
Den Golding from Newport co driving for Paul Gunter in another Escort also pulled out.
Best result for a local crew was Bob Gibbons from Blackwood and Stuart Cardell from Abergavenny who finished 2nd overall in a Ford Cortina in the Historic rally and winning their class.
122 cars finished the event and much credit has to go to the Forest of Dean motor club for keeping the event to time. Further thanks to all the marshalls who stood out all day in the freezing conditions.
The next round of The Welsh Tarmac Rally Championship takes place next Sunday Feb 19th at The Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey near Llanelli. Rally Cwm Gwendraeth organised by the Gwendraeth Valley Motor Club has attracted 70 entries and the venue never fails to supply some spectacular action.
First car on stage at 09.30 with further information at www.gwendraethvalleymotorclub.co.uk