Faulkner Takes Welsh Forest Rally Championship Lead

Scott Faulkner/Gareth Parry celebrate a career-best third overall finish on the Plains Rally.

Faulkner Takes Welsh Forest Rally Championship Lead

By Paul Evans

Scott Faulkner has taken the overall lead in the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Forest Rally Championship after finishing third on the Plains Rally in his Group N Mitsubishi Evo IX.

Co-driven by Gareth Parry, it was Faulker’s best ever overall finish as he shared the podium with event winners Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Ford Focus WRC) and runners-up Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC).

Tom Llewellin suffered two punctures, but the Haverfordwest teenager still won the Junior section. Co-driven by Ross Whittock, he also finished second in the two-wheel drive section and 14th overall.

Zak Hughes/Tom Wood won their class in a Fiesta ST, as did Ieuan Rowlands/Emyr Hall (Ford Escort), Gethin Price/Tomi Emlyn Williams (Nissan Micra) and Perry Gardener/Keaton Williams (Ford Fiesta R2).

The event, which started in Oswestry and finished in Welshpool, was played out over 42 stage miles in Dyfnant, Aberhirnant and Llangower forests.

Plains Rally – top 10 finishers
1. Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Ford Focus WRC)….40:57
2. Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)….41:48
3. Scott Faulkner/Gareth Parry (Mitsubishi Evo IX)….42:53
4. Russ Thompson/Andy Murphy (Mitsubishi Evo)….43:51
5. Richard Sykes/Simon Taylor (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)….43:55
6. Pat Naylor/Ian Lawrence (Mitsubishi Evo9)….43:59
7. Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper (Subaru Impreza)….44:05
8. Petr Krizan/Lukas Sintal (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)….44:15
9. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Mitsubishi Evo IX)….44:31
10. George Lepley/Tom Woodburn (Hillman Avenger)….44:55

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