To start the event there was a loop of three stages and on stage 1 we were cautious due to the damp conditions. Stage 2 was another cautious run but on stage 3 we had a brake binding problem causing the front brakes to overheat. When we returned to service after these three stages we fixed the brake problem and went onto dry tyres as the road had now dried up. We had a good stage on stage 4 pushing hard which continued onto stage 5 although we had a small moment over one of the jumps. On stage 6 we lost first gear exiting a chicane this dropping us a handful of seconds. On returning to service the crew removed the damaged tooth from the gearbox and we decided to carry on without the first gear.
Stage 7 was a wet stage and as we were on slick tyres still missing first gear we dropped further down the field. We decided to use intermediate tyres for the next stage and the roads had dried up which left us loosing more time. Stage 9 we returned back onto slick tyres only to be caught in heavy downpour whilst waiting on the stage start. As we had dropped out of the class positions we decided we had to push for the last stage to try and salvage a result from the day. It was a very good stage and we finished in 11th overall and 2nd in Class 3 and took 3rd as a Welsh Tarmac contender. We were very happy with the result considering the problems on the day.
Thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Neil Jones, Richard Roberts and John Curzon. Not forgetting another excellent event from Kath Curzon in the co-drivers seat.
Also thank you to JMS Photography and Alan Jones for the images.
