By Paul Evans

Phil Turner won the West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages Rally for a second year in a row, after a fine performance at the Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey yesterday.

The Craig Cefn Parc driver quickly got used to a new paddle gearshift system in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and, together with co-driver Simon Anthony, recovered from an off on the infamous Beach Road on SS3 to win the Carmarthen Motor Club organised event by 32 seconds.

Jamie Jukes/James Morgan set the fastest time on the opening stage in their Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage to take an early, and massive, 21 second lead. However, a puncture on SS2 and gearbox issues on SS4 ruined that excellent start.

Gavin Edwards/ Caron Tomlinson made the trip from North Wales and despite hitting some tyres and bending their Ford Escort Mk2’s steering on SS4, they finished a magnificent second overall. They normally compete on forestry events, but did the JAFFA Stages once before in 2014, and finished second overall then too.

The giant-killing performance of the day once again came from William Mains. Partnered by Arfon Griffiths, the Llandysul driver spun on SS3 but recovered to finish and incredible third overall (and comfortably first in class) in his rapid 1400cc Vauxhall Nova.

Tom Barber, co-driven by Formula 1000 front-running teenager Ioan Lloyd, finished fourth in his BMW Compact, despite a spin, stall and puncture on SS3 and an off on Beach Road on SS4. Indeed, the total time lost in these two stages cost them a place on the podium.

Peter Barrett/Robert Thomas had a trouble-free run to fifth in their Escort Mk2, while a very sideways and spectacular Rhodri Evans/Ian Taylor won their class and finished sixth overall in their Escort Mk2.

Another magnificent drive came from Josh and Craig Jones, who were seeded at number 51 and finished 10th overall in their Peugeot 205, while Sean Jones/Elliott Roberts won their class and finished 16th overall in a Mazda MX5.

Out of the 68 starters, only 47 crews reached the finish.

Crews who didn’t complete the event included number three seeds Thomas Cooper/Ian Davis, who retired their Mitsubishi Evo with centre diff failure on the first stage.

Roger Thomas/James Williams hit a tyre barrier on SS1 and retired their Ford Fiesta R5 from third place on SS4 with hole in the gearbox, Ceri Davies/Eifion Page retired their Subaru impreza from fourth place on SS4 with a blown turbo, Steve Knibbs/Gerwyn Barry stopped when their Subaru Impreza’s power vanished and Marcus Padgett/Rhys Stoneman retired their Nissan Micra Kit Car on SS2 with a broken bottom arm.

A more spectacular exit came from Christ Johns/Kristian Wright, who put their Honda Civic off into a water-filled ditch on Beach Road on SS3.

Osian Pryce/Jess Hockly were well inside the top 10 in their Ford Fiesta ST before a strange problem with the gearbox on SS4 put them out too.

West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages – top 10 finishers
1 Phil Turner/Simon Anthony (Mitsubishi Evo 9)….51mins 45secs
2 Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson (Escort Mk2)….52mins 17secs
3 William Mains/Arfon Griffiths (Vauxhall Nova)….54mins 38secs
4 Tom Barber/Ioan Lloyd (BMW Compact)….54mins 49secs
5 Peter Barrett/Robert Thomas (Escort Mk2)….55mins 07secs
6 Rhodri Evans/Ian Taylor (Escort Mk2)….55mins 34secs
7 Mike Roberts/Hefin Jenkins (Escort Mk2)….56mins 55secs
8 Jim Munden/Danny Hutchins (Subaru Impreza)….56mins 58secs
9 Ellis Belton/Michael Jones (Escort Mk2)….56mins 59secs
10. Josh Jones/Craig Jones (Peugeot 205)….57mins 10secs