Two separate Ross competitors, Steve Bennett and Paul Morris, took the local honours during the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages.

The latest round of the Mintex RAC British Historic championship, plus the Pirelli Welsh series, attracted a very high quality entry of 125 cars to the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells.

Seven stages made up the 45 competitive miles with two loops of Crychan, Cefn and Gwibedog stages, plus 11 miles in the awesomely fast Radnor forest.

Steve Bennett with M-Sport World Rally Team co-ordinator, Iain Tullie, on board the Bennett Motor Services of Ross, Escort RS1800, took a superb fourth overall, finally putting the bad luck of the previous two rounds behind him.

Simon Tysoe, with his Ross-based co-driver Paul Morris, continued their fine form, with fifth overall, first post-historic car home and first in class. Tysoe has found his confidence again and, if they continue this form, they will be in the mix come the end of the year for the outright historic crown.

The day wasn’t without its problems, as they dropped 20 seconds in Radnor, due to hanging dust.

In seventh place were Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons in the Allglass Escort RS1800, taking second in class as well. They are another crew who have finally ironed out issues that have plagued them all year.

Jason Gardner, with Graham Cox on the notes, in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS took 29th overall, having lost two minutes with a puncture in Radnor, costing them a top 20 finish. In the open rally, Graham Waite and Gill Cotton took 23rd overall and second in class in a Toyota Corolla.

Sadly, for both Bob Morgan and Ade Williams’ Skoda Fabia and Mark Griffiths and Tom Marrott’s Escort RS, retirement beckoned after SS2, with alternator and engine issues respectively.

Herefordshire Motor Club’s Mini Epynt Stages, 44 miles on the notorious military ranges near Brecon, attracted a full 80 car entry on Sunday.

Ross duo, Roger Matthews and Mike Jode finished 12th overall and second in class in their Escort RS1600, while Dan Bufton and Tom Marrott finished 29th and second in class in their Vauxhall Nova.