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: John Trevethick
Stages: 5 (39 Stage Miles)
Stages: Myherin, Tarenig, Sweet Lamb, Hafren & Dyfnant
Starters: 49
Winners: Charles Golding/Preston Ayres (Ford Escort RS1600)
Charles Golding/Preston Ayres took victory on the Meirion Rally in their immaculate Escort RS1600. The event mixed clubmen with historic entries and ran alongside the Bulldog Rally; using the final five stages of the main event.
The rally should have seen a comfortable victory for Phil Collins/Cliff Simmons. The pair were revelling in the use of pacenotes on a forestry event and had opened up a lead of ninety seconds over the first four stages. They had been fastest on three and second on the rather 'Mickey-Mouse' spectator special at Sweet Lamb. Unfortunately their Escort ground to a halt with electrical problems halfway through the final stage, Dyfnant.
Collins' demise should have handed the win to Keith Wilde/Andrew Sankey; on stage times, they were almost a minute clear at the Finish. However a rare mistake by Sankey saw them pick up a one minute road penalty, this dropped them to second just three seconds behind Golding/Ayres.
Francis Tuthill/Pauline Gullick made it a good day for the historic entries, bringing their Porsche 911 home in third. Russell Spry/Robert White had chased Collins all day but problems in Dyfnant cost them over a minute and they trailled home in fourth.
John Keatley/Maurice Beckett should have been fifth but they also incurred road penalties and were eventually classified ninth. Pre-event favourites Andy Miers/Tony Beddoes had a short rally as they Escort was seen parked up only three miles into the first stage, Myherin.
Robert Dalziel/Anthony Lewis were also a victim of this stage, sliding their Sierra off the road and out of rally. Graham Evans/Ian Mills also went off the road on the first stage, but, having taken a maximum, got going again, only to have their Escort's exhaust break in Hafren.
OVERALL RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Co-Driver | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Charles Golding | Preston Ayres | Ford Escort RS1600 | 45m 51s | |
2 | Keith Wilde | Andrew Sankey | Ford Escort RS2000 | 45m 54s | |
3 | Francis Tuthill | Pauline Gullick | Porsche 911 | 46m 01s | |
4 | Russell Spry | Robert White | Ford Escort | 46m 11s | |
5 | Dessie Nutt | Geraldine McBride | Porsche 911 | 46m 35s | |
6 | Andrew Kenny | Gary Kenny | Mitsubishi Lancer | 46m 44s | |
7 | Martin Kenny | Steve Quine | Ford Escort | 47m 03s | |
8 | Grant Sturkey | Leo Todd | Ford Escort | 47m 07s | |
9 | John Keatley | Maurice Beckett | Porsche 911 | 47m 20s | |
10 | Drexel Gillespie | Peter Martin | Ford Lotus Cortina | 48m 07s | |
11 | Dennis Parry | Huw Lewis | Ford Sierra XR4x4 | 49m 26s | |
12 | James Young | David Young | Vauxhall Astra | 49m 27s | |
13 | Craig Salter | Liz Jordan | Ford Escort | 49m 36s | |
14 | Andrew Street | Simon Gaden | Saab Sonett | 49m 46s | |
15 | Richard Edwards | Keith Davies | Vauxhall Astra | 49m 53s | |
16 | Kevin Mecham | Collette Le Page | Ford Escort | 51m 34s | |
17 | Sean Edwards | Helene Mars | Ford Escort | 52m 12s | |
18 | Robert Gough | Michael Wilding | Vauxhall Nova | 52m 27s | |
19 | Gordon Cameron | Sheila Grimshaw | Austin Mini Cooper | 53m 34s | |
20 | Martin Payton | Guy Weaver | Peugeot 106 Rallye | 53m 45s | |
21 | Peter Stimson | Christopher Underwood | Ford Anglia | 53m 59s | |
22 | Roy Lewis | Peter James | Ford Escort RS | 54m 26s | |
23 | Andy Kibble | Martyn Duncan | Vauxhall Astra | 54m 59s | |
24 | Dave Preece | Rowand Prentice | Porsche 911 | 55m 16s | |
25 | Steve Baker | Bill Stevenson | Porsche 911 | 55m 25s | |
26 | Spencer Wilkinson | Clive Dunbabin | Peugeot 106 Rallye | 55m 35s | |
27 | Simon Woodley | Michelle Calvert | Ford Escort | 55m 41s | |
28 | Adrian Mayall | Robert Hayden | Alfa Romeo 33 | 56m 24s | |
29 | April Lay | Sally Phillips | Peugeot 205 GTi | 57m 12s | |
30 | John Spiers | Paul Rothwell | Ford Mustang | 1h 16m 39s | |
31 | Anthony Ward | David Harris | Ford Cortina GT | 1h 19m 06s |