ABERYSTWYTH co-driver Gareth Parry, sitting alongside Scott Faulkner, finished an excellent eighth overall and second in the Group N class on the Woodpecker Rally, in a Mitsubishi Evo 9.

The result gives them an excellent opportunity to now go on and take the Group N honours within the 2018 Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship.

Following a full transmission rebuild by AMS Arnside Motorsport prior to the event, the car never missed a beat, and their Group N title fight with Wug Utting and Bob Stokoe goes to the final round on the Wyedean Rally in the Forest of Dean.

“Getting into the groove early on, we reached first service lying ninth and third in Group N,” said Parry. “We had a small scare as we entered service with the starter motor packing up, but thanks to Chris and the C1-R lads, we were sorted.

“A clean run once again through the amazing Haye Park Stage saw us hold our position, and more of the same over the final three stages saw us eighth overall and second in Group N at the finish, and more importantly takling maximum points in class, and in the junior navigators’ category within the Championship.

“From watching Scott compete on the Woodpecker stages in 2017, I would never have thought I’d be competing in the same car one year later, and achieving a much improved result.

“A massive thanks to all of our sponsors who have made this year possible, including Professional Motorsport World Expo, C1-R, AMS, R3RR, Garry Davies Accident Repairs, Fluid Power and GeeWiz Performance. It all comes down to the final round of the Championship, the Wyadean Stages in November.”

Meanwhile Matt Edwards and Darren Garrod overcame late dramas to take their fourth victory of the year in the Welsh Forest Rally Championship. That win also secured for them a free entry on Wales Rally GB, part of the Road to Wales initiative of IMS, promoters of the British round of the World Rally Championship.

The Llysfaen driver and his co-driver, from Pwllheli, opened up a 14 second lead on the first of the rally’s seven stages, and maintained their advantage to the finish at Ludlow Racecourse.

It could have been a different story however, with their Ford Fiesta picking up a puncture on the penultimate stage of the event. They were forced to drive five miles on the deflated tyre with the flailing rubber inflicting significant damage on the car’s bodywork.

Despite that they managed to get the Fiesta across the finish to take the victory.

Second went to former champions Luke Francis, from Rhuddlan and his Colwyn Bay co-driver John H Roberts. They were denied the chance to make a late challenge for victory when they too picked up a puncture on their Fiesta WRC.

Third place went to West Country husband and wife team Martyn and Dawn England in their R5+ specification Fiesta, while Dylan Davies, from Llanon and Caernarvon’s Llion Williams took fourth place in their Subaru Impreza, ensuring that they take a narrow lead into the final round of the Championship.

Fifth for Matthew Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear was enough to ensure that the young Mitsubishi Evo IX driver, from Doncaster, takes the 2018 Junior Welsh title for drivers under 23.

Another crew to suffer late drama on the event were Max Utting and Mike Ainsworth. A track control arm on their Ford Fiesta ST snapped on the very last corner of the final stage.

The duo managed to effect a makeshift repair and got back to the Ludlow Racecourse finish with just a few seconds to spare. That means that the Surrey driver has clinched this year’s two-wheel drive title, although co-driver Mike Ainsworth will have to wait until the season finale to see if he can secure a title of his own.

Another title fight to have been settled includes the RAVENOL Freelander class which goes to Alex Howard and George Fleming.

Perry Gardner, from Ludlow takes the driver’s title in class W2 with Class W3 driver honours go to Stanton Lacy’s Dave Brick.

In Class W4 Steve Deeley from Stourbridge and Alan Proudman of Newport in Shropshire take the driver and co-driver titles respectively, and the W5 co-driver’s award goes to Hereford’s Alan Jones. Finally, Treorchy’s Kalvin Green takes the Class N3 driver’s title.

Along with the overall title, Group N title and many of the class awards, the destination of the RAVENOL Welsh Challenge for both drivers and co-drivers will not be settled until the final round of the season, the Winner Garage Wyedean Stages Rally which takes place on 10 November.

The battle for driver honours features Max Utting, Matthew Hirst and Worcester driver Colin Griffiths, while Declan Dear, Mike Ainsworth and Geraint Thomas will fight it out among the co-drivers.

Victory on the Woodpecker secured the BTRDA Gold Star title for Matt Edwards. He currently leads the British Rally Championship and is just five points behind Dylan Davies in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship.

All eyes are now on the Llysfaen driver to see if he can complete an unprecedented Triple Crown.