Kevin Davies put in a superb performance on this weekend's Malcolm Wilson Rally, opening round of the new Ford Fiesta SportingTrophy.  The youngster from Llanfihangel-ar-Arth in West Wales took the final podium spot on the event with a fine third overall in the combative one make series.Partnered by Llandysul's Emyr Jones, the David Harries and Co. backed pair were hopeful of a top ten finish on the rally, with 24 of the identical Fiesta ST150's making the trip to the Cockermouth based event.  Davies, supported by rallycarsales.net and KJ's Eden Tours had taken a class win on the event 12 months earlier, and was determined to get off to a good start in 2006.  Kevin was making his debut in a one make championship after comprehensively winning the Silkolene 1400 National A5 Class Championship last season in a Geoff Jones Motorsport run Nissan Micra Kit Car.  With the Micra now gone, it was the 150 horsepower Fiesta that Kevin needed to master in order to achieve a solid result in the muddy conditions.Davies started well as he rapidly got to grips with the X-Cite Motorsport Supplies backed car.  Despite not having contested a forest rally since November last year, Davies was quickly on the pace of the leading Fiesta runners as he settled into a good rhythm on the rough Lake District forests.  Kevin and Emyr were soon forcing themselves into the Top 5 stage times as the 20 year old quickly got to grips with the car.Attrition was high amongst the Fiesta drivers throughout the day, and Davies was quick to profit from the misfortunes suffered by other drivers.  Despite a small scare when a rock caused some light damage to the car's cooling system, Davies was able to maintain a steady pace throughout the days stages, and going into the final stage, Greystoke, the talented youngster had worked his way into an impressive third overall.With a fine second fastest time on the final six mile test, Kevin arrived back at the finish delighted to have gone well past his expectation of a top ten finish.  With the Fiesta unmarked as well, it was all smiles for the West Walian as he reflected on a job very well done indeed:'I'm still a bit shocked with the result to be fair' said Kevin.  'Of course a couple of the leaders retired during the day, but in fairness we were able to set competitive times all day long.  I'm still learning how to drive the Fiesta, and switching to left hand drive is also something very unfamiliar to me, but I feel as though I'm adapting well to the challenge.  The pace of the Fiesta series is really quite amazing - its totally flat out on every single corner - so it was great to be involved today.  I feel as though I'm getting used to the car now and hopefully we can continue the way things have started here this weekend.  The car is a good all-round package and Geoff Jones Motorsport did a great job in running the car for me as well.  Today's result gives me a lot of confidence for the season ahead'.Davies will line up on the forthcoming Pirelli National Rally for his next Fiesta SportingTrophy outing.  The Carlisle based event uses the fearsome 'killer' Kielder forest, the largest man made forestry plantation in Europe.  Davies will be attempting the unique and super fast gravel stages for the first time on May 14th.