Nicholls keeps nerve to triumph in Wales (From Halesowen News)

Nicholls keeps nerve to triumph in Wales

3:15pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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FORMER British Trials and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Gold Star champion Will Nicholls is celebrating after taking his first win in the Quinton Stages Rally, held in mid-Wales.

It marked a complete reversal of fortune for Nicholls, who was forced to retire from last year’s event with mechanical problems.

Nicholls beat reigning BTRDA champion Hugh Hunter by just 15 seconds following a frantic days racing, with both men now having put their challenge for this year’s championship title back on course after mixed fortunes on earlier rounds.

Some 117 competitors set out from the Llandovery start of the Quinton club’s premier event of the year to the heart of the action – on the gravel rounds on and around the infamous Epynt Ranges on the hills above the town.

Lancashire’s young hot-shot David Wright took third place overall in his much less powerful Mitsubishi EVO9 and won his class ahead of the Impreza of Powys’ Nigel Griffiths, while the top five overall was filled out by Herefordshire’s Damian Cole in his Hyundai Accent WRC ahead of Pembrokeshire’s James Belton in Subaru WRC.

In the other classes, Herefordshire’s Henri Grehan took the Silver Star honours in his two-wheel drive Ford Escort RS and Newtown’s Martyn Lewis took the Millers Oils 1400 class with Quinton co-driver Richard Lewis sitting alongside.

Meanwhile Carmarthenshire’s Terry Brown retained The Classic Motor Show Trophy, his Ford Escort again finishing as the best Historic car.

Quinton Motor Club crew Robert Brookes and Rachel Brockington won the Class N3 event in their MG ZR at the Quinton Stages Rally in Mid-Wales last weekend.

The pair had tied with club rival Tom Haines, racing in his first ever rally, but were separated in Brookes’ favour by his quicker time on Stage 1.

An astonishing 16 other Quinton crews took part in this highly-rated championship rally that attracted the very best clubmen from throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

Bennett was the top Rally First contender, also winning The Andreas Mikkelsen Trophy with co-driver Alastair McNeil in their Vauxhall Corsa, having been selected by rally legend Nicky Grist as Stars of the Day.

Clerk of the course Neil Cross was delighted by the positive reaction to the event.

He said: “As this is my first one in charge, I can only breathe a huge sigh of relief that it has been such a success and the organising team has been able to deliver such a professionally organised event for the large entry, with the typical Quinton welcome.”

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