Pirelli MSA Welsh Stage Rally Championship

Round 6 - Woodpecker Rally

Connor McCloskey seeded at car 1 left it late on the penultimate round of the 2013 championship, taking the victory by virtue of clearing the final test six seconds quicker than Stephen Petch who had held the lead throughout the event.

McCloskey, who had only finished rebuilding his Subaru WRC on Wednesday following his roll on the previous round, has now taken four maximum scores in the championship.

Current championship leader Luke Francis, starting at 8 in his Group N Mitsubishi Evo 1X, was determined not to let his lead slip and on the first test set equal fastest time beating several WRC cars in the process. His nearest challenger Alex Allingham exited the stage concerned about time loss and the centre diff in his Group N Subaru, a problem that was to affect them all day. After the first test in Radnor the pattern was set with the WRC cars heading a competitive trio of Group N cars, the only exception being Charlie Payne who crashed out on the second Radnor test.

The Championship will now go down to the final round the Cambrian Rally in North Wales with Alex Allingham determined to claim his third title; Connor McCloskey though will be looking for the perfect score.

Results1. *Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan Subaru S9   0:43:082. Stephen Petch/Ian Windress Ford Focus WRC08       0.43:103. Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton Ford Focus WRC01     0:43.14 4. *Luke Francis/John H Roberts Mitsubishi Evo 9   0:44:165. James Anderton/Ella Flynn Mitsubishi Evo 9          0:44:19 6. *Alex Allingham/Chris Williams Subaru Impreza N10   0:44:50 * denotes championship contenders Championship standings after Round 6(Provisional)

1. Alex Allingham 1362. Luke Francis 1283. Connor McCloskey 1254. Keith Parry 1115. Rob Dennis 926. David L Roberts 83


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