Damian Cole, with his Ross-on-Wye co-driver, Paul Morris, totally dominated last Sunday’s Dixies Challenge Rally, in their Fiesta World Rally Car.

The event was sponsored by Paul and Sally Ann Gunter of BG Landrovers of Crockers Ash.

The event, jointly organised by Foresters Car Club and Forest of Dean MC, attracted a full 80 car entry for 40 miles of the daunting Epynt Ranges, where heavy showers on the final loop made tyre choice very difficult.

The rally was a round of the HRCR Old Stagers and Stage Master series, plus the Restruct Welsh mixed surface championship and the Mini Sport Cup, of which there were 26 entries.

Cole and Morris started as they meant to go on, setting the fastest time on the opening test by 16 seconds from last year’s winner, Adrian Spencer in his Subaru WRC. And despite a last minute engine misfire, went on to set 10 fastest times, from the 11 tests, to bring the Weaver Motorsport prepared car home and take victory by 59 seconds.

Jason Gardner had a new co-driver, Osian Owen calling the notes in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS. The duo made a good start, lying 13th after the first loop, but an off on stage four dropped them 20 seconds. Having clipped a kerb on the penultimate test they thought they had broken a wheel or the steering, but all seemed ok, although they lost over a minute and had to settle for 18th overall, third in class.

Nigel and Karen Jenkins were looking for points in the Welsh mixed surface in the NJ Autos Vauxhall Nova and had a good run. They held the class lead until the rain arrived with three stages to go, making the correct tyre choice difficult. Sadly they were pipped for the class victory on a tie break but they still took 31st overall and the maximum Welsh points.

Just behind them were Andy Stokes and Ade McNally in the historic Hillman Avenger taking part in their second event in two days having travelled down from the Carlisle based Pirelli Rally. These two had a trouble free day taking 33rd and sixth in class and Stage Masters points.

Andrew O’Hanlon had Ryan Taylor on board and took 41st and ninth in class in their PT Motorsport Mini

Just one second behind were veteran duo Eric Davis and Russ Joseph in the Dennis Motorsport Mini, which had been fitted with a new engine. They were held up on stage 6 after catching a slower car, and a slide on stage 8 in the rain which, according to Russell, ‘Eric caught well’ to finish 42nd and 10th in class.

Father and daughter Paul and Jemma Taylor in their PT Motorsport backed Mini finished 58th and 11th in their class.

The event was very well received by competitors and it was agreed that it had been a well organised rally in very changeable weather con