Ludlow co-drivers first and second in British Championship

With Clarke claiming the title on the previous round Williams and driver John Perrott had to start the final round of the Championship, the Trackrod Rally, to claim a Category win, however, there was a slim chance that they could also take second overall in the championship.

Covering 53 miles in the Dalby Forest complex with two stages in the dark and two runs through the main Dalby Stage the event would test drivers, co-drivers and cars.

Also making the trip to Pickering was Bridgnorth's Jez Rogers, Jez out with Simon Webster for only the second time in Simon's Viking Motorsport prepared MkII Escort, and on the rally it was Rogers who came out on top.

At the end of the night stages they were in seventh overall reporting no issues and looking forward to the following day's stages. They pushed hard and Rogers felt they were lucky to get away with one or two moments. They were rewarded with their best ever result of third overall and second in class.

Meanwhile Williams, sitting by Leominster's John Perrott only had to start the event in Perrott's MkI Escort to claim the category win in the championship. However at the end of the evening stages the pair were frustrated to be lying in 12^th overall! At the service halt they changed the gearbox which had been playing up, however Perrott was convinced that there was a problem with the differential as the car refused to turn in, but only in one direction! Unable to fix it they would carry on regardless.

With five stages run the following day the pair were determined to bring the car home in one piece, however the opportunity to take second place in the championship overall was too good to miss and the pair upped their pace and with two sixth place stage times they managed to claim fourth overall sealing 2nd place in the championship as well as winning the category and class on the event.

Clarke was out with regular driver Jason Pritchard in the MkII Escort having already sealed the championship win the pair were out to enjoy the event with no pressure to secure points.

The two2 night stages saw them lie in third. Unfortunately it all went wrong on the 3rd stage the following day when some ruts on the inside of a right hand bend sent the car up a bank and into a gentle roll putting them out of the event. Both crew members were okay and the car was driven back to the rally finish.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held on October 14 at the Ludlow Brewery starting at 20.00, all are welcome.