Gremlin Rally
Sponsored by Old Forge Garage
Brecon Motor Club
5th/6th March 2011
Clerk of the Course: Craig Jones
Route: 120 Miles
Maps: 147, 160 & 161
Starters: 79
Winners: Daniel Jones/Steve Herbert (Ford Escort)
Daniel Jones/Steve Herbert took the win on a perfectly timed Gremlin Rally, they dropped just 42 seconds all night, but this total was picked up on five different sections. The event was under new management and the organisers were rewarded with a near capacity entry. In return competitors were full of praise for the high standard of the organisation and the quality of the route, especially that in the second half.
Jones/Herbert led from the outset, however towards the end of the first half their Escort broke an alternator bracket. They managed to execute a temporary repair using a block of wood. This enabled them to complete the route and finish almost a minute clear of their nearest rival.
The result means that Jones has now taken maximum Welsh Championship points on both of the two opening rounds of the series.
Meirion Evans followed up his third place on the Bro Caron with the runner up spot on the Gremlin. On this occasion he had Dale Bowen on the maps. This pair finished thirty seconds ahead of Reian Jones/Michael Gilbey, who had been in second place at Petrol.
Arwel Hughes-Jones/Dylan Williams had been in third at the halfway stage but retired in the second half.
Mark ‘GT’ Roberts/Steve Price were forced to run their Golf on the tyres off their trailer after those they had originally fitted failed scrutineering. Despite this and bent steering in the later stages, they finished in sixth place.
The drive of the rally came from the Semi-Expert crew of Elliot Grey/Marc Hughes. They had put their 205 into fourth place at Petrol. They were slowed by gearbox problems in the second half but still finished in 14th place and took the class win.
Owen Turner/Dan Robinson took the Under 1400cc award finishing just outside the top ten in their Rover.
RESULTS