Local co-driver Will Rogers, together with Matt Edwards, wrapped up the Production class of the 2016 British Rally Championship, with yet another class victory on last weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages. They follows in the tyre tracks of an exclusive band of local stars who were successful in the British Championship down the years, Graham Elsmore, Stuart Harrold, Nik Elsmore and Cliff Simmons.

Paul Willets told the Ross Gazette:?“This is a real success story given the amount of work that’s been put in by Matt and Will, as their budget is a fraction of that of other championship contenders.”

Based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, the event offered British Championship crews a two day mixed surface event, with 45 gravel miles in the forests of Crychan, Halfway, Monument and Route 60 on day one. This was followed by 60 miles on the tarmac roads of the Epynt military ranges.

Saturday’s gravel mileage also played host to both BTRDA and Pirelli Welsh National championships, which meant a capacity entry of nearly 180 cars left Builth Wells on Saturday morning.

After the beautiful sunshine of Friday heavy rain Saturday morning certainly damped down the dust, and made the stages incredibly slippery, and tyre choice very difficult.

For Edwards, it was difficult to know how hard to push as they wanted to get the title wrapped up, but were conscious that mistakes are easily made. Despite a wrong tyre choice for the opening loop they still held 10th overall but more importantly first in the Production class at the mid-day service.

The second loop again passed without any real dramas to arrive safely back in Builth still holding 10th overall and on course to wrap up the BRC title. “Day one done and dusted, been hardnot too push, but this morning was very slippery, tomorrow will be interesting as Matt’s never been over Epynt before,” said Rogers.

Day two provided a further 10 tests again on the slippery tarmac, again no real dramas apart from aquaplaning on standing water on the last stage and nearly collecting a sheep in the process. They were relieved to see the finish, despite dropping to 12th overall they were, yet again, first in the production class.

Damian Cole, with his Ross based co-driver Paul Morris, finished 14th overall in the Get Connected backed Fiesta S2000, a persistent misfire on day one didn’t help,but a much better run on Sunday’s stages over the tarmac ranges on Cole’s favoured surface.

Another local crew in the honours on Saturday’s gravel rally were Bob Morgan with Adie Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda Fabia Evo, who finished 14th overall and second in class B13, after a faultless day, although the car took some punishment on the rough stages.

Scott Partridge and Mike Jode collected more championship points, despite a few electrical glitches with no launch control and on board computer. They also overshot on stage 2 but they finished 40th overall and seventh in class B13 in the Bullit Polish sponsored Subaru Impreza.

For Ross duo Gary Bollands and Russ Joseph, in the GB Motorservices backed Subaru Stationwagon, it was an event to forget, after a heavy landing after a big jump on stage four, Bollands hurt his back badly and had to stop. He was taken to Nevill Hall Hospital to be checked over.

Spencer Price and Chris Hands in the TPS Gates Landrover Freelander finished all the stages in 55th position, only to be deemed OTL at MC4.