Round 4: Severn Valley Stages, June 5 Phil Newson won round four of the Hankook MSA Welsh National Rally Championship, the Severn Valley Stages, while Alex Allingham and Mark Glennerster emerged as the new championship leaders.

Luke Francis led the event briefly after storming through the opening stage 14 seconds clear of Newson, only for gearbox problems to force his retirement after SS2. Newson thereafter battled with local Dave Brick for top honours, eventually triumphing after blasting though the final stage 45 seconds faster than his rival.Results1 Phil Newson / Peter James (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 49m55.9s2 Dave Brick / Rob Woodhouse (Subaru Impreza ) 50m45.7s 3 Mike Tomkinson / Shaun Whitehusrt (Subaru Impreza ) 50m51.1s4 Malloch Nicoll / Martin Forrest (Mitsubishi Evo) 51m16.7s5 George Thomas / Mark Ammonds (Vauxhall Nova) 51m34.4s

Round 5: Swansea Bay, July 17Championship positions (provisional) after Round 4 1 Alex Allingham – 85 points2 Martyn Walby – 783 Tony McWhirter – 754 Paul Davy – 745 Nigel Jenkins – 68