Round 4: Jim Clark Rally, 31 May-1 June

Gareth James and Steffan Evans continued their superb season-long run of form by winning the Jim Clark Historic Rally.

Just four weeks after winning the Pirelli Historic Rally in Kielder forest, the Welsh youngsters set a phenomenal pace through the asphalt lanes around Duns in their Ford Escort Mk2 to claim their third consecutive Category Three (1975-81 cars) victory and take the championship lead.

James led home Ernie and Will Grahams Escort RS Mk2 by well over three minutes. The father and son pairing scored their best result of the season so far, overcoming a pre-rally misfire to claim second in Category and set one fastest stage time. Newly-registered BHRC crew, Will Rowlands / Emyr Hall finished third in their vivid green Escort Mk2.

Resultscategory winnersC1 Dessie Nutt / Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) 1h19m6.8sC2 Richard Hill / Pat Cooper (Ford Escort Mk1) 1h14m9sC3 Gareth James / Steffan Evans (Escort Mk2) 1h11m32.5s

Provisional championship standings

1 Gareth James93 points2 Rikki Proffitt883 Ernie Graham774 Dessie Nutt765 Graham Waite75