Unless otherwise clearly indicated, results on this site have been declared final and are therefore not subject to query or protest
Clerk of the Course: Graham Evans
Route: 120 Miles
Maps: 136
Starters: 57
Winners: Phil Turner/Owen Dodd (VW Golf GTi)
Phil Turner/Owen Dodd took their second successive victory on Newtown AC's Holrus Rally on a night of treacherous conditions. As crews left Newtown at the start of the 120 mile event, it appeared that fears of frost could be set aside as rain was falling, however as competitive motoring started this hope was soon dispelled.
The roads to the south of Llanidloes had a covering of frozen snow and the going was hard. Most crews had problems leaving an uphill control in Waunmarteg Forest and were further delayed on the ascent out of Bwlch-yr-Sarnau. Kevin Hesketh/Andy Moss, David Marsden/Gary Moult, Paul Webb/Mike Hart and Ceri Richards/Aled Jones all retired after sliding of the road. Des Phasey/Martin Phasey overheated their Escort, while Wayne Morris/Patrick Walsh, hampered by a misfire on their car, failed to get up one of the slopes.
The outcome was that of the 57 starters only 40 reached the end of the first section and most of these had been unable to complete the correct route. Many others were already over their time limit. The conditions for the rest of the night were slippery but did not cause the chaos of the opening miles.
There were exception to the tails of difficulties, with Turner/Dodd, fresh from their Peak Revs victory, making the best use of their Golf's front wheel drive. They dropped less than three minutes on the first section; their nearest challengers were more than two minutes behind. Geraint Davies/Sarah Gluyas were going well, having made a good tyre choice, but were forced out on the second section when the alternator failed on their Corolla
Turner/Dodd cleaned the second half to finish over twelve minutes ahead of second placed Gary Jones/Richard Preece (Toyota Corolla).
Michael Pedley/David Pedley were within touch of Turner/Dodd at Petrol but picked up two fails for missing control boards in the later stages. Graham Evans/Ian Mills similarly dropped down the leader board after missing one of the same boards.
The difficulties of the first section sealed the fate of the Welsh Championship. Neil Griffiths/Carl Williamson had major traction problems but did complete the section, while Toby Adam/Pat Gadsby lost so much time that they had to cut route and picked up a number of fails; they finished in 19th place. Griffiths/Williamson eventually finished fourth and secured the Welsh crown.
The top three Semi-Expert crews, all in Peugeots, proved the advantage of front wheel drive in the conditions and were all in the top ten. They were respectively 'Polly'/Duncan Pinnegar, Nick Bloxham/Martyn Allen and Mick Bradley/Dean George. Ian Jones/Peter Tomlinson were the leading Novices in 23rd place in their Golf.
OVERALL RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Phil Turner | Owen Dodd | VW Golf GTi | 3m 15s | |
2 | Gary Jones | Richard Preece | Toyota Corolla | 15m 38s | |
3 | Kev Parry | Gareth Price | Toyota Corolla | 18m 08s | |
4 | Neil Griffiths | Carl Williamson | Ford Escort | 20m 22s | |
5 | John Powell | Matt Barker | VauxhalL Astra | 20m 37s | |
6 | Polly | Duncan Pinnegar | Peugeot 205 GTi | 25m 33s | |
7 | Nick Bloxham | Martyn Allen | Peugeot 205 GTi | 29m 24s | |
8 | Mick Bradley | Dean George | Peugeot 309 GTi | 29m 33s | |
9 | Clive Wakeley | Justin Davies | Ford Escort | 30m 06s | |
10 | Graham Evans | Ian Mills | Toyota Corolla | 1F 11m 47s | |
11 | Jerry Jones | Phil Lewis | Mini Clubman | 1F 18m 36s | |
12 | Neal Arden | Giles Corbett | Ford Escort | 1F 21m 48s | |
13 | Jimmy Patterson | Martin Jones | Subaru 4x4 Turbo | 1F 29m 44s | |
14 | Michael Pedley | David Pedley | Ford Escort G4 | 2F 5m 20s | |
15 | Michael Kimber | Paul Jenkins | Toyota Corolla | 2F 28m 23s | |
16 | Rob Jeffries | Kev Taylor | Subaru RX Turbo | 4F 29m 52s | |
17 | Paul Edwards | Huw Lewis | Ford Escort | 7F 40m 44s | |
18 | Rick Cipolat | Neil Payne | Vauxhall Astra | 9F 42m 16s | |
19 | Toby Adam | Pat Gadsby | Ford Escort | 10F 48m 00s | |
20 | Jim Clarke | Brian Spurr | Talbot Sunbeam | 12F 57m 48s | |
21 | Peter Hughes | Chris Evans | Ford Escort | 14F 18m 14s | |
22 | Trevor Pritchard | Paul Hughes | Vauxhall Carlton | 14F 28m 44s | |
23 | Ian Jones | Peter Tomlinson | VW Golf | 19F 38m 55s | |
24 | Sean Crowley | Andrew Phillips | Ford Orion | 21F 49m 53s | |
25 | Claire Evans | Dave Evison | Vauxhall Nova | 27F 36m 57s | |
26 | Hefin Evans | Paul Dark | Ford Sierra | 27F 50m 58s | |
27 | Alun Davies | Rob Duke | Opel Manta | 41F 39m 00s | |
28 | Nick Broadway | Andy Oakes | Ford Sierra | 42F 38m 00s | |
29 | Clive Greves | Hywel Greves | Toyota Corolla | 42F 46m 00s | |
30 | Jason Stone | Daniel Stone | Peugeot 205 GTi | 43F 66m 00s | |
31 | Tony Watkin | Medwyn Evans | Vauxhall Nova | 46F 93m 00s | |
32 | Nigel Phillips | Baryan Joseph | Toyota Corolla | 56F 33m 00s |