The all-new Kumho Clubman Challenge within the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship has been judged a great success after the opening two rounds, with 37 crews in a wide range of cars already contesting the challenge.Running within the main championship, the Kumho Clubman Challenge is aimed at recognising the crews competing on limited resources and to be eligible for the challenge drivers must use no more than six tyres per rally. The Kumho Clubman Challenge is a class and category-based challenge, allowing crews from any of the categories to be the Clubman Challenge champions. The R.A.C. Rally Championship organisers have always pledged to try and contain costs and maintain a level playing field and the Kumho Clubman Challenge is a major part of that commitment.After the opening two events, the Red Kite Stages and Mid Wales Stages, two drivers are tied at the head of the points. Tom Coughtrie (Ford Escort Mk2) and Layton Waters (Toyota Starlet) are level on 86 points, while cars from Category 1 take the next four places in the form of Gwilym Roberts (Lotus Cortina), Peter Stimson (Ford Anglia), Chris Tooze (Singer Chamois) and Simon Wallis (Lotus Cortina).However, one driver worthy of particular mention is class D5 driver Tim Freeman who has successfully contested both events running his Ford Escort Mk2 within the Clubman Challenge. Freeman’s overall results prove that it is possible to be competitive at the very front of the field while running on a limited number of tyres.“We are very pleased with the way the Kumho Clubman Challenge has already become an established part of the R.A.C. Rally Championship,” said Championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “It is important that everyone involved in gravel rallying works to reduce tyre consumption and we are delighted to have taken a lead with the Clubman Challenge.”The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.