DOLGELLAU rally ace Elfyn Evans and co-driver Craig Parry continue to lead the 2016 MSA British Rally Championship after setting the highest number of fastest stage times and leading the iconic Circuit of Ireland Rally.

The Welsh duo took the event by storm, posting quickest times on six special stages, but unfortunately they were forced into an early retirement on the third test on day two, while holding a commanding 12.4 second lead.

“When things were going well we had a really strong pace and set a number of fastest times even when the leaders were battling today," said DMACK British Rally Team driver Evans.

"Everything was working pretty well, and I was pushing hard in most places. We didn’t have the luck this weekend, but it’s encouraging to know the performance on Tarmac is there.”

Evans has limited experience of the tricky Northern Irish stages but was easily the quickest driver through Thursday’s qualifying stage – his extra soft compound tyres delivering leading performance on the muddy and treacherously slippery stage.

He continued to dominate in his Autotek-run Ford Fiesta R5 car when the rally began with classic mountain and coastal stages through Glendun and Torr Head on Friday.The pair drew first blood on the opening stage, leading the event by six seconds before doubling their advantage on the second.Drama and retirement was to follow on stage three, but restarting under super rally rules, Evans and Parry showed their class with four fastest overall stage times on Saturday, before retiring again.No fewer than four drivers held the lead during the two-day event, but it was 23-year-old Irishman Josh Moffett and co-driver John Rowan who went on to win the second round of the Championship.

Moffett mastered the Belfast-based event in his Ford Fiesta R5 to claim a 27 second margin over Jonathan Greer and Kirsty Riddick in their Citroen DS3 R5.

David Bogie and Kevin Rae completed the top three as they rounded out a Pirelli podium clean sweep in their Skoda Fabia R5.Meanwhile Tom Cave, from Aberdyfi, overcame gear box gremlins in his Fiesta R5 to chalk up a solid fourth place, while Jamie Anderson, who had never competed in a Tarmac event before, put in a fine drive to round out the top five in a similar Fiesta R5.MSA British Rally Championship for Drivers points (after 2 of 7 rounds): 1: Evans 50*; 2: Moffett: 30; 3=: Greer 18; 3=: Bogie 18; 3=: Cave 18; 6: Ahlin 15; 7=: Anderson 6; 7=: Thorburn 6; 9: Yates 5; 10=: Edwards 4; 10=Mellors 4.