Denbighshire Astra Stages RallyDenbighshire Astra Stages Rally

Herefordshire's Andy Burton only just made it in time to contest the Denbighshire Astra Stages National Rally.  Together with Colwyn Bay's John Roberts, the Peugeot-Cosworth crew mastered the North Wales forests for the second time in three years - and co-driver Roberts celebrated a consecutive hat-trick of wins on the popular Llangollen based event. Burton held off the challenge from multiple National Rally Champion Graham Middleton in his Matador Tyres backed Hyundai Accent World Rally Car.  The Llandrindod Wells driver lead the event early on. Graham was seemingly heading for maximum points in the new British Rally Championship 'Rallymasters' category until the Accent WRC's gearbox cried enough on the final stage of the rally, forcing him and co-driver Paul Morris into a rare retirement.Investment banker Richard Gower put in one of his strongest performances to date as he claimed a fine second overall, two minutes behind Burton.  Isle of Wight resident Will Nicholls made the long trip to North Wales very worthwhile as he completed the podium, taking maximum 'Rallymasters' points in the process in his Subaru Impreza WRC P2000.In the Production Cup for Group N cars, Barry Groundwater took a surprise victory in a class that boasted former British Rally Champion Jonny Milner and former World Rally Championship privateer Alistair Ginley.  The two Yorkshiremen both set some very fast stage times throughout the day, although Milner was hampered by a turbo problem in the morning loop of stages.  With that cured, the Yorkshire ace set about climbing the leaderboard in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo8, until a rear differential failure forced his retirement on the final stage.  Ginley had lead the category early on, but his rally ended with three stages to go.  Scottish pair Groundwater and co-driver Jude Wylie duly profited took the honours and fine 6th overall in the process.The Denbighshire Astra Stages 'Stars' Rally catered for the British Rally Championship 'Stars of the Future' category.  Favourites Tom Walster/Kirsty Riddick and Carwyn Harries/Gareth Roberts set the pace initially.  Walster retired his loaned Proton Satria with a gearbox failure, whilst Harries suffered a spectacular engine failure in his Suzuki Ignis 1400.  MG ZR driver Steve Loveridge kept his nose out of trouble and took the honours along with co-driver Mark Sattin.  David Meredith made it an MG 1-2, and Gareth Nutt completed the podium in his Peugeot 106.  Liverpool's Tony Simpson took the class E1 honours on the event in his Skoda Felicia.In the Denbighshire Astra Stages Historic Rally, multiple British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae took a well judged victory in his Porsche 911, along with Campbell Roy.  McRae weathered the storm from fellow Porsche driver Steven Smith to win by 38 seconds in the 'Post Historic class', with Mark Solloway heading up the Ford Escort contingent in 3rd.  In the Historic class, former Touring Car driver Patrick Watts took the honours in his Sunbeam Tiger from Dessie Nutt, with Neil Calvert bringing home his Ford Lotus Cortina in 3rd.Rising star Nick Kenny and co-driver Darren Garrod won the Denbighshire Astra Stages Clubmans Rally.  The Subaru Impreza driver from Telford won by 35 seconds from Keith Parry's similar machine, whilst Ieuan Rowlands and Kelvin Savage completed the podium with another fine performance in their Peugeot 206 XSi.