ESCORT DOMINATES IN THE FORESTS

Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss emerged as resounding winners of the Roger Albert Clark Rally from 20-24 November, after one of the toughest editions yet in the 16-year story of this marathon, during which only 125 of the 176 starters made the finish.

- 

Pryce/Furniss set the pace from the start aboard their Ford Escort Mk2, as snow and ice made the first two days in Wales incredibly difficult. There was further snow later, plus fog and rain, but they barely put a wheel wrong. A small off in the ice of Hafren Forest on Friday afternoon cost around a minute, but willing spectators soon had them back on track.

Another Mk2 was leading the chase as the surviving cars arrived back at Carlisle airport on Monday afternoon, crewed by Paul Barrett and Gordon Noble. However, they had their hands full for much of the rally battling the BMW M3 of Marty McCormack, who has won the event a record-equalling four times, and Barney Mitchell, until the E30 suffered a broken gearbox on Monday morning.

Third overall in the Historic field went to former British rally champion Matt Edwards and co-driver Sion Williams, also in a Mk2, whose performance was arguably the event's biggest comeback, after losing 6 mins with a puncture on Friday. Dyfrig James and Emyr Jones claimed fourth, and Dan Mennell and John Roberts made it an all-Mk2 Ford Escort top five in the main element of the event.

In the concurrent Open Rally field, Greg McKnight and Harry Marchbank were dominant in their modified Mk2, setting times that would have put them third overall among the Historics.

Best of the non-Escorts, despite several problems and a time-consuming off on Monday, were Mark Higgins and Carl Williamson in a Triumph TR7 V8, but sadly out of the rally on Friday went the Lancia Stratos HF of Seb Perez and Dale Bowen after a high-speed spin on the icy Myherin stage.

MORE SERIES FOR MRL