By Paul Evans
Charlie Payne and Carl Williamson won the Pentraeth Automotive Group Glyn Memorial Stages at the weekend in their Ford Fiesta WRC.
The Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Motor Club-organised 65-stage mile single venue event took place at the Anglesey Circuit in Ty Croes, with Payne eventually winning by just over two minutes.
Mark Kelly/Neil Colman put in a great class winning performance to finish runners-up in their Ford Escort, while Wesley Simpson/Joe Ford took third in their Proton Millington S2500. Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff were fourth in their Ford Fiesta R5, while Eric Roberts/Iwan Pritchard won their class and finished fifth in their Ford Escort.
Other class winners included Ben Wilkinson/Andrew Wilkinson (Citroen Saxo) and Dion Rowlands/Kai Alcock (Vauxhall Corsa) who finished an excellent 12th and 13th overall respectively.
There were a number of notable retirements, including last year’s rally winners William Owen/Paul Maund in their Ford Escort. Roger Moran/Ashley Trimble broke a wheel bearing in their Darrian T90 GTR+, Chris Berry/Heather Merrison broke the steering on their Escort, Eifion Wyn Thomas/Robyn Gwynedd Jones snapped a half-shaft in their Escort and Chris Row/Jayne Auden-Row (MG ZR) and Brynli Thomas/Caian Williams (Peugeot) were forced out with gearbox problems. Meanwhile, engine problems put a halt to the challenge of Matt Pierce/Jez Rogers (Ford Escort), Gethin Sharp/Kate Bannister (Nissan Micra) and Huw Roberts/Joe Davies (Ford Escort).
Glyn Memorial Stages – top 10 finishers
1. Charlie Payne/Carl Williamson (Ford Fiesta WRC)….65:05
2. Mark Kelly/Neil Colman (Ford Escort)….67:08
3. Wesley Simpson/Joe Ford (Proton Millington S2500)….68:06
4. Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5)….68:35
5. Eric Roberts/Iwan Pritchard (Ford Escort)….69:44
6. Lee Jones/Lewis Griffiths (Mitsubishi Evo)….70:04
7. Mark Smith/Tim Nunn (Ford Escort RS2000)….70:22
8. Scott Moran/Chris Ridge (Ford Escort)….70:34
9. Carwyn Ellis/Dion Morley (Ford Escort)….70:41
10. Tom Barber Chris Ransley (BMW Compact)….70:45