Stokes Leads The Way For Armajaro On The Matador Tyres Welsh International Rally

David Stokes demolished the opposition on round three of the 2005 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Matador Tyres Welsh International Rally on 30th April - 1st May. After 120miles of demanding asphalt motorsport, Stokes and co-driver Ian Oakey returned their RS1600 Escort to Llandrindod Wells with over a two minute victory margin.Mark Solloway swapped from the co-drivers seat to take the wheel after Ray Bellm was unable to make the start and with last minute replacement co-driver Ieuan Thomas, the pair set off on a blistering pace over the opening four tests with a healthy lead until the engine called time and the Welsh pair retired on the spot.The retirement elevated Stokes into the premier spot for the remainder of the rally with the leader forced to back off over the latter few stages with gearbox problems."The bolts in the bellhousing have all but sheared so we have taken the last few stages steady and nursed the car home. Its been a wonderful weekend and really pleased to take the win."On his first visit to Epynt since the Rallysport Challenge in the eighties, Jeremy Easson paced himself well with Den Golding to take the runner up spot in their RS2000. The result proving significant for Golding, having completed his first Epynt finish in twenty-three years."We came here with no plans as such and would have been very happy with a top five finish, so this is far better than expected." enthused Easson. Next up was Stephen Hall, he and Aggie Foster using the Triumph TR7 V8 for the first time on tarmac and pleased to take their first Classics win.A good run from Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes gave the pair a class win in their Escort Mk1, having almost lost it all when the car stepped out after a quick section and put them on the grass.Patrick Watts found the going tense with an aging Sunbeam Tiger being pushed to the limits over Epynt, with Elgan Davies alongside. Once the pair achieved the desired speed, the small brakes were very reluctant to stop the car. However, the pair notched up the historic category victory.Bob Gibbons suffered alternator problems on his Escort over the weekend, but was pleased with the result for hime and Neil Cook. Gibbons was also more than pleased to use last years Manx tyres to complete the Mid Wales event.Steven Smith and John Nichols overcame gearbox problems on the Saturday evening to take third in class in their Porsche 911.

Rear quarter damage on his Escort a clear sign that Rikki Proffitt and Dave Alcock had not had an easy weekend after colliding with a straw bale."It was a square right at the German Village, but we were going too fast through the long left hander before it and just spun into the bale."Martin Freestone and Chris Heyes returned to Epynt after a 25 year absence and were happy to complete a testing weekend without drama.