Newark’s James Lepley, had a reasonable weekend out on the Rallynuts Servern Valley Historic National Rally last Saturday, (April 13) writes Paul Horton.
With his co-driver, Simon Jones the pair were amongst 33 other contenders in the latest round of the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship.
The race started from Llandrindod Wells in Wales and would run over seven stages and 62 miles of gruelling Welsh forest previously used World Rally Championship stage gravel.
The pair were competing in their usual Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 rally car.
The first stage of the day was SS1 Sarnau, the 4.17mile test saw the pair take the stage in four minutes and twenty nine seconds to finish it in the top ten and seventh in class.
SS2 Tarennig saw a slightly shorter stage (3.74miles) with them finishing seventh on the second stage and sixth in their historic class.
They were lying eighth overall after the stage.
The third stage of the day was SS3 Myherin 1, a tight and twisty forest stage of 9.85 miles to finish in ninth spot but maintaining their last positions in the rally and historic class.
SS4 Hafren Sweet Lamb was next up, a long 11.22 miles of well known rally stage, full of spectators waiting eagerly amidst the dust.
The pair maintained their position.
A well earned service halt at Builth Wells Showground for an hour saw them ready to tackle the final three stages, a rerun of Myherin (SS5). Followed by two gruelling long stages in Myherin and Hafren forests.
A slower afternoon Start saw them fall back to eleventh on stage, ninth overall and seventh in class.
SS6 Myherin Main, was 15.82 miles long, and a sheer test for both rally machine driver and co-driver.
The pair finished it in just under 21 minutes and 30th car through the stage and 15th spot in the event.
The last stage of the day was SS7 Hafren Main, with a time of 15 minutes and forty six seconds over 13.34 miles they were ninth out the stage.
A respectable day’s work for Lepley saw him finish tenth overall and take a eighth place in class.
