ABERDYFI driver Tom Cave furthered his quest to become 2016 MSA British Rally Champion when he and co-driver James Morgan finished fourth on The Circuit of Ireland Rally.

The result means that Cave and co-driver James Morgan now lie equal fourth in the BRC standings, with five rounds to go, and they can still play their Joker card - which doubles the points score.

The Irish event also hosted the second round of the FIA European Rally Championship, in which Cave finished in a more than respectable sixth position.

"All things considered, I am very happy with the result," said Cave at the finish.

"It was a tough event and the conditions were really challenging, especially without much experience of the Fiesta R5 on Tarmac, and limited knowledge of the rally.

"It meant I wasn’t pushing as hard as I normally would, but the Michelin tyres and the car performed extremely well, and I must congratulate the Spencer Sport team for another job well done."

Having scored an impressive third in the opening round of the British Championship last month in Wales, Cave and went to the Belfast-based event with realistic expectations.

It was his first-ever rally on asphalt in the Spencer Sport run Fiesta R5, and the 24-year old was aware that he would be up against some tough opposition, as many of the leading R5 teams from Europe had entered.

He also knew that those drivers from Ireland would pose a significant challenge, with their local knowledge.

To give himself the best possible chance of leveling the playing field, Cave signed up for the European Rally Championship ahead of the event.

This enabled him to take part in the practice and qualifying stages on Thursday, and gain more pre-rally seat time. It also offered the benefit of a lower start number, which meant he and Morgan would run closer to the front of the field - a real bonus when conditions are unpredictable.

With patches of mud and gravel punctuating the otherwise dry closed public roads on the first loop of three stages held north of the Ulster capital on Friday morning, the Welsh pair opted for a considered start, in order to assess their pace against the rest.

Despite being a little frustrated that he could not find his rhythm due to unfamiliarity of the car in the conditions, rain in the afternoon helped the equilibrium, and there were no dramas to report, unlike other crews.

He and Morgan ended day one seventh of the BRC runners and just outside the top 10 overall.

Saturday’s itinerary included a loop of four stages run twice in the County Down hills.

With sunnier conditions - other than the odd spontaneous hailstorm - the roads appeared to be in better condition and consequently, confidence inside the Fiesta increased.

It was a factor that reflected in the stage times and, at the lunchtime service halt in Belfast, he and Morgan were now fourth of the BRC crews and in eighth place overall.

However, the Fiesta’s gearbox was beginning to feel tight when making certain changes, but after an inspection by the team, it was deemed fit enough to make it to the end of the event.

Mindful of the issue, Cave adjusted his driving accordingly and, after a flawless final four stages, he and Morgan consolidated their position.

They finished fourth in the British Rally Championship, sixth in the European Championship and in eighth place overall.

Cave and the Spencer Sport team will be back in action on 30 April a May, when the surface switches back to gravel for the Pirelli Carlisle Rally, and the infamous stages of Kielder Forest.