Phil Burton and Mal Capstick were the big winners on the third round of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship, the Pirelli Carlisle Stages (Saturday 25 April).Burton was in fighting form to be top R.A.C. finisher in his Open Category Ford Escort Mk2, while James Potter and Bob Duck were leading historic finishers in their Ford Escort Mk2. Barry Stevenson-Wheeler and John Pickavance were third overall and second in the Open Category. “Fantastic: the car’s been brilliant,” said Burton after taking a resounding victory.James Potter and Bob Duck (Ford Escort Mk2) topped the historic R.A.C contenders, despite having to steer around bits of broken BMW on the opening stage. Fortunately, the only damage to the re-liveried Escort was a broken headlight. “The speed is getting back,” said Potter on only his second rally since a high-speed off in Yorkshire last September.On a day of tough conditions and high attrition, Stuart and Linda Cariss did well to be first Category 2 crew home in their Escort Mk1, finishing ahead of class winners Matthew Honeybourne/James Curtis (Ford Escort Mk1). “It’s been a good day but a bit of an eye opener; it’s a different world back there,” said Cariss of running well down the field. Notable non-finishers included Grahame Standen/Jane Edgington (Escort Mk2), Simon Crook/Alister Crook (Opel Manta), Tim Mason/Graham Wild (Porsche 911), Will Midgely/Graham Wride (Toyota Corolla) and Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson (Escort Mk1). Sadly, the Crooks suffered a big roll at the deceptive crest that earlier caught out BHRC contender Ernie Graham and inflicted considerable damage on the Manta.Meanwhile, ditches claimed Mason and Bean, with Mason being particularly unlucky to spear off the road with a suspected breakage in the final stage when only seven seconds down on Potter. Out on the opening stage with electrical issues went Grahame Standen and Jane Edgington (Ford Escort Mk2), which left the way open for a class victory for David Hopkins/Tony Vart (Talbot Sunbeam).