By Simon Gronow
Following the second round of the 2023 JD Tyres Welsh Tarmacadam Championship, the SMC Stages, Darrian crews dominate the standing, filling the top three places.
Multiple Welsh champions Richard Merriman/Kath Curzon found the stages at the Anglesey Racing Circuit to be challenging, with grip levels varying as the track was just damp in places, but wet elsewhere.
Nonetheless, the pair – who last won the series in 2019 – coped well with the conditions and led the Welsh runners’ home in their Darrian T9, taking second in their class on the event.
Initially, Bob Fowden and grandson Mathias were the leading contenders in their Subaru Impreza WRC S11B before the pair were forced to retire the car with gearbox problems on the third special stage.
At this point, they had been just two seconds in front of Chris Simmons/Lucie Gutteridge who were repeating the form they showed on the opening round, the Tour of Caerwent, where they finished third overall in their Darrian T90 GTR.
Unfortunately for Simmons/Gutteridge, they too would suffer problems on the third test, when they lost time avoiding spilt oil on the track, dropping them to 41st position.
The pair attacked the remaining stages in style, and by the end of the day they were just one position behind Merriman, who they now trail by one point in the championship.
Chris Berry/Merfyn Williams didn’t enjoy the slippery early stages, but things went better as the roads dried out, and despite suffering gear selection issues, the pair were third contenders to finish in their Ford Escort Mk2.
They were followed home by Russell Davies/Richard Suter who had another good run as the driver acclimatises to his new Darrian T90. Running slick tyres all day in the slippery conditions, the pair made a steady start before speeding up as the day wore on, and now hold third place in the championship.
Finishing fifth of the contenders were Kevin Davies/Sion Rowlands, the pair, like many other struggling with the grip at times, though the pair were pleased with their day, despite spinning Peugeot 207 on the sixth stage.
Finishing just three seconds behind was co-driver Fiona Crump, who was another to lose time avoiding the spilt oil on the third stage, as did fellow co-driver Karen Phelp, both losing positions as a result.
After losing time early on with gear selection issues, things went better for Keith Daniels once the problem was sorted and he went on to finish third in class in his Vauxhall Corsa, and now holds the class lead in the championship.
On his first visit to the venue, Christian Howells found it hard to make the correct tyre choice, his Vauxhall Nova losing time after going off the circuit onto the grass on a couple of occasions on the first stage.
Another to lose time on the opening stage was Trevor Keeble, who lost time after spinning his Ford Escort.
Following a 12-year break from the sport, Mydrian Harries made his rallying comeback in a Vauxhall Nova and despite suspension issues and a gearbox oil leak, he was pleased to make the finish.
It wasn’t a good day for Phil Turner/Terry Martin who lost time after spinning their Škoda Fabia on the first test before retiring on the second stage when a rear shaft broke, whilst Jonathan Davies retired his Peugeot 206 on the first stage with a blown engine.