The over two-litre class saw the Escort Cosworth of Mike Hammond/Edgar Jones fail to finish the first stage after a very fraught journey to the venue. Myfyr Owen/Keith Jones went OTL after gear problems on their Focus and class victory went to Jonathan Whalley/Peter Dennis (Escort) from Jon Madoc-Jones/John Thomas in a Renault 5 GT Turbo.
The Road Rally class was won by Baz Green/Chris Jones (205 GTI) despite having difficulty seeing in daylight! They finished ahead of Steve Bishop/Roger Titley (Escort) and Alex Crowley/Rob Walters (205 GTI), another to roll yet finish!
Results: 1, Huw James/Andrew Edwards (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 59s; 2, Brian Hardman/Paul Jackson (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 22m 18s; 3, Huw James and Andrew Edwards proved the seeding correct with a start to finish victory on the Ranges, their third successive victorious finish. Their Escort finished nineteen seconds ahead of Brian Hardman and Paul Jackson (Escort), recording their third runners-up placing at the venue. Chris Phillips and brother-in-law Rhys Hughes (Peugeot 106) took third.
James/Edwards were two seconds up on the first stage, and a battle between Hardman/Jackson and Kevin Jones/Ros Goodall ensued just behind, the two Escort crews locked until the ninth stage when Jones/Goodall lost time perched on tyres. Theses two crews took first and third in class, sandwiching the enthusiastically driven 205 GTI of Danny Postlethwaite/Aled Jones.
Gareth Roberts and Paul Dolby headed the 1400cc class throughout, their 106 finishing sixth overall ahead of Arwyn Williams/Dafydd Roberts (Sunbeam) with Dewi Jones/Eilir Williams (106) third despite a roll.
Philips/Hughes took 1600cc class victory, Simon Bevan/Richard Williams (Astra) and Gareth Owen/Darren Thompson (205 GTI) the remaining awards and also in the top ten overall.
Chris Phillips/Rhys Hughes (1.6 Peugeot 106 GTI) 22m 49s; 4, Danny Postlethwaite/Aled Jones (1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI); 5, Kevin Jones/Ros Goodall (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 23m 30s; 6, Gareth Roberts/Paul Dolby (1.4 Peugeot 106) 23m 33s; 7, Simon Bevan/Richard Williams (1.6 Vauxhall Astra) 23m 35s; 8, Jonathan Whalley/Peter Dennis (2.1 Ford Escort Mk2) 23m 41s; 9, Paul Hughes/Dave Stocking (1.8 MG ZR) 23m 42s; 10, Gareth Owen/Darren Thompson (1.6 Peugeot 205 GTI) 23m 43s. Class winners: Roberts/Dolby, Phillips/Hughes, James/Edwards, Whalley/Dennis, Baz Green/Chris Jones (1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI), Keith Markham/Peter O'Dougherty (1.0 Daihatsu Charade) 25m 36s
FORMULA 1000
Formula 1000 produced the usual close battle. From twelve starters Peter Jones/Paul Griffiths (Micra) held a small lead until the ninth stage when transmission failure stopped them. Late entry Keith Markham/Pete O'Dougherty (Daihatsu Charade) inherited the class win and won by twelve seconds from the Micra of Simon Povey/Alistair Dodd with Steve King/Jon Richardson taking third spot in a Sunbeam. James Watkins/Andrew Jones (Nova) won the Drive of the Day award, but Matt Gregory/Haydn Williams (205) went off on the first and then rolled into retirement on the fourth stage!
Results: 1, Keith Markham/Peter O'Dougherty (1.0 Daihatsu Charade) 25m 36s; 2, Simon Povey/Alistair Dodd (1.0 Nissan Micra) 25m 48s; 3, Steve King/Jon Richardson (1.0 Talbot Sunbeam) 25m 50s; 4, Phil Scholes/Stephen Pollard (1.0 Nissan Micra) 26m 11s; 5, Stephen Brown/Paul Stringer (1.0 Nissan Micra) 26m 38s; 6, Aled Loveluck/Tomos Parry (1.0 Nissan Micra) 26m 47s
Report: Dave Thomas, 11 Maes Canol, Llandudno Junction, LL31 9UX. (Tel 07788 995345 Mobile, 01492 584872 Home, 01745 589529 Work)