DALE Furniss described his delight after marking his birthday with Plains Rally success last weekend.
The Llanfyllin co-driver partnered Richard Tuthill in a Porsche 911 in competing at the Knutsford MC organised event based in Bala.
The duo saw off the challenge of Martin McCormack/Barney Mitchell and Tom Walster/Andrew Roughead to top the podium in the historics class with a time of 0:44:13 - just two seconds clear of McCormack.
Furniss said: "To take a win in such a fierce battle with Marty was a great Birthday present to myself.
"The pace at the sharp end of the British Historic Rally Championship is really fierce and its great to have taken my first win in a Porsche too.
Andrew Stokes and Jonny Evans in action. Picture by Howard Smith.
"I`d never won the Plains Rally before, but I did a lot in those forests during the early part of my career so it was nice to come back and be going flat out in stage just half an hour from home. What a weekend."
The reigning Historic class champions Michael McDaid/Declan Casey returned to the series and finished second in W9 in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2.
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Defending Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally champion Matthew Hirst celebrated a third straight maximum points score of the season in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5.
The frontrunning duo were tied for the lead after the opening 2.78 mile test through Alwen South – before Hirst, who was partnered for the first time by Mark Glennerster, took the smallest of leads after the next 6.55 miler through Alwen North.
Alun Jones and Geraint Mills in action. Picture by Ian Francis.
Just a second separated them as they came to the final stage of the morning loop, the 3.3 mile blast through Llangower – with Hirst setting fastest time again to reach midday service in Bala with a slender nine second advantage.
With only two stages remaining, Hirst regained 13 seconds on the penultimate stage after Gardener spun to leave him 10 seconds behind entering the final stage with Hirst going on to extend his margin to 18 seconds and lead the Welsh Championship.
“I’m very pleased to take home my third set of Pirelli Welsh points in a row, as it’s obviously very good for the championship,” said Hirst.
Andrew Stokes and Newtown's Jonny Evans have taken the lead in class W8 after a great performance in their Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 while also winning the Historic 4WD Witham Group special award.
The fourth round 4 of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday, July 8th.
Organised by Quinton Motor Club, the event is based in Builth Wells and contains 44 stage miles in Llyn Login, Monument, Halfway and Crychan.
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