Round Seven - Woodpecker Rally, Ludlow, Saturday 5th September 2009

Following on from victory last time out on the Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally, former champion Steve Perez (Chesterfield) and co-driver Paul Spooner (Raglan) stormed to a dominant victory on the penultimate round of the 2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship by winning every stage of the Sixty & Worcestershire National Rally today.

As part of the Ludlow-based Woodpecker Rally, which was making a welcome debut in the ANCRO-organised series, the Ford Focus WRC crew came home well ahead of their nearest rivals Nik Elsmore (Coleford) and co driver Craig Drew (Bream) after a dominant display in and around the famous Welsh borders.

Although the title had already been decided with Marcus Dodd (Poole) and Andrew Bargery (Hove) claiming a third successive crown in their Hyundai Accent WRC in Swansea, Perez's victory moved him and Spooner into a comfortable second place in the standings and also clinched him two class awards for good measure.

Results

1. Steve Perez/Paul Spooner - Ford Focus WRC - 56:53 2. Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - 9 59:01 3. Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson - Subaru Impreza WRC - 1:00:30 4. Harry Dodd/Alun Cook - Hyundai Accent WRC - 1:04:32 5. Steve Blunt/Bob Duck - Subaru Impreza - 1:07:02 6. Rob Archer/Peter Field - Ford Escort RS 1800 - 1:07:19 7. Kit Leigh/Tim Leigh - Ford Fiesta ST - 1:09:01 8. Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield - Subaru Impreza WRC - 1:10:38

Championship

1. Marcus Dodd 119 (champion)2. Steve Perez 112 3. Daniel Barry 1024= Simon Hughes 94  = Nik Elsmore 946. Paul Bird 68