Round 1: Mid Wales Stages, 3 March

Gareth James and Steffan Evans got their championship challenge off to the best possible start by winning the opening round, the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Historic Stages.

Despite a relative lack of gravel experience, the young Welsh crew set a tremendous pace in their Ford Escort RS 1800 to beat three-time title winners David Stokes and Guy Weaver by almost half a minute.

James also claimed maximum points in Category Three, with Stokes scoring a maximum in Category Two after overcoming a broken starter motor. Rikki Proffitt and Phill Harrison staged a late fightback to overhaul Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride for Category One honours.

Results category winnersCategory One Rikki Proffitt / Phill Harrison (Porsche 911) 63m20.3sCategory Two David Stokes / Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS 1600) 59m28.2sCategory Three Gareth James / Steffan Evans (Escort RS 1800) 58m59.9s

Provisional championship standings1 Rikki Proffitt 31 points= David Stokes 3= Gareth James 314 Peter McDowell 30= Shawn Rayner 30