Following a very encouraging start on the Astra Stages National Rally 2005, Wyn Humphreys suffered an uncharacteristic non finish on the North Wales loose surface rally. The event was a qualifying round of the Welsh National Rally Championship of which Humphreys is contesting in 2005 along with the Silverstone Competition Tyres British Trials and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Championship.
While the 21yr old Welshman currently leads the under 25 category in the BTRDA series in the TEG Sport International Group N specification Subaru Impreza, he had hoped to make an impression on the Welsh National qualifier.
Although the Aberdyfi driver and his Machynlleth co-driver, Mark Lewis started well on the Llangollen based rally which used classic North Wales tests in the Clocaenog and Aberhirnant forests, setting times inside the top ten only bettered by more powerful World Rally Cars. The pairs times included two seventh places, a sixth and a fifth fastest on the four opening stages and were leading the Group N Showroom class, with a healthy 16 second lead.
However going into the fifth test of the day with very slippery road conditions a mechanical failure put pay to any further participation in the rally.
"We were going quite well as we entered stage five, we had changed a damaged bottom arm earlier in the day and the back of the car was sliding around more on the slippery stages. In the stage we came to one corner expecting the back of the car to step out but the front just slid off the road. We had no damage to the car but it was impossible to get back on the road and continue."
Despite the non finish the pair were pleased with their pace throughout the rally and have put them in the correct frame of mind for the next championship round in two weeks.
"We have to be happy with the pace, there were only World Rally Cars in front of us and we were comfortable inside the top ten. It is frustrating not to finish but we have to get over it and start to prepare for the next rally. We showed we are able to achieve a good result on the next two rallies."
Humphreys and Lewis have completed two rallies in two weeks, the pair now have a weekend off before they contest two rallies on the weekend of 23rd/24th April, as they contest the supporting events to the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship opening round, the Rally of Wales. The Panaround Rally is the next round of the Welsh National series and then the pair contest the Gwynedd Rally. While the BRC event runs over both days, the Panaround will take place on the Saturday with the Gwynedd on the Sunday.
