Local crew, Eric Davis and Russell Joseph, had a convincing victory on the Rally Sunseeker Historic, in their Roberts Plant, Armley Enterprises Mini GT.
The Historic event opening round of Mini 50 Cup covered 35 miles in the Ringwood Forestry complex. Davis, from Drybrook, led the rally from the start, in spite of an overshoot on stage 2. He hit gearbox trouble on Stage 3 but this was soon sorted at service. He held a commanding 79 second lead by the final stage, when he lost first gear and then the wipers. However he still managed to come home with a 39 second victory.
Co-driver Joseph said: "It was extremely slippery, with plenty of standing water about, but Eric drove really well and we are really pleased to have won."
Also out on the historic event were Nigel Dutson and Matthew Davis in a similar Mini GT, they had a trouble free day to finish 5th historic.
Running behind the Historic event was the National Rally, the opening round of the MSA Gravel series. Steve Perez and his local co-driver, Paul Spooner, were hoping to follow up their recent win on the Wyedean. But they faced tough opposition on the Sunseeker from local ace, and reigning National Champion, Marcus Dodd (Accent WRC), friend and rival, Paul Bird (Focus WRC), Roger Duckworth (Impreza WRC), Kenny McKinstry(Impreza WRC), and late entry, Andy Burton(Peugeot Cosworth). With Dodd soon taking the lead, the battle raged between Perez and Burton for second place.
First Perez, and then the Leominster driver chased Dodd. In the end, after 60 miles of fast and furious action, Marcus Dodd took victory from Burton, with Perez having to settle for third place.