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Will Nicholls (Ventnor)
and co-driver Nick Broom (Yeovil) have won the Betta Somerset
Stages Rally in their Subaru Impreza WRC and, in the process,
brought to an end Andy Burton's incredible run of seven consecutive
victories on the event. The Hereford driver looked set for yet
another win until his Peugeot Cosworth suffered crankshaft failure
on the seventh stage, instantly demoting him and co-driver Shelley
Rogerson (Lancaster) to the rank of spectators.
In an ironic twist
of fate, it was Nicholls/Broom who were leading the 2007 Somerset
Stages before being sidelined by engine failure and, as defending
champions, this win reinforces their position at the head of the
Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series.
Fellow BTRDA title
aspirant Damian Cole (Hereford) took the runner-up spot in his
Hyundai Accent WRC. He and co-driver Paul Morris (Hereford) returned
to the finish in Minehead 21 seconds adrift of the leaders after
twelve special stages, and 44 miles, of competition.
Third place went
to Mike O'Brien (St Albans) and Ian Allsop (Stourbridge) in their
Ford Focus WRC. O'Brien, too, had some unfinished business in
Somerset as he was forced out of last year's rally when his car
caught fire.
The Top Six was completed by Hugh Hunter (Ruthin)/Andy Marchbank
(Little Sutton) in a Ford Focus WRC, Pete Elkins (Westbury)/Andrew
Joll (Torquay) in a Ford Escort WRC and the Mitsubishi Lancer
of Tim Pearcey (Thirsk)/Jamie Edwards (Wrexham) who also took
the Group N production award.
Frank Kelly (Moy)/Aidan
Friel (Letterkenny) made the long trip from Northern Ireland worthwhile
with a Top 10 finish and two-wheel drive honours in their Ford
Escort RS. This keenly-fought category saw second and third places
also going to crews from across the Irish Sea, with Seamus O'Connell
(Dungiven)/ Paul Williams and Ryan Barrett (Omagh)/Barry Ferris
(Omagh) in similar Escorts. Jon Ballinger (Hereford)/Alistair
Douglas (Bromyard) upheld English honours in their Opel Manta
with fourth in the category.
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