The MSA British Rally Championship returned to action on the Mid Wales Stages last weekend with seven Pirelli-supported drivers among the top 10 finishers.

Sweden’s Fredrik Ahlin starred on his BRC debut, winning three stages in his CA1 Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta R5 to battle over the lead before eventually finishing second.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “I think we have exceeded our and everyone else’s expectations. Now we have to keep on pushing.”

Ahlin excelled in difficult conditions with some parts of the stages covered in snow, and used Pirelli’s Scorpion K8 gravel tyres to get the optimal grip in cold temperatures.

The returning 2011 champion David Bogie narrowly missed out on a podium finish in his new Skoda Fabia R5, also run by Pirelli-backed CA1 Sport.

Euan Thorburn put another different car inside the top five in his Peugeot 208 R5, ahead of fellow Pirelli driver Josh Moffett in a Ford Fiesta.

Three more Pirelli drivers rounded out the top 10, with Jonny Greer eighth in front of his DGM Citroen DS3 R5 team-mate Keith Cronin and Skoda driver Desi Henry.

New BBC Top Gear presenter Chris Harris also took part, giving the rear-wheel drive Toyota GT86 CS-R3 its UK debut. He suffered electrical gremlins on the opening evening but restarted on Sunday and made the finish, picking up the BRC3 class win.