ANDY Davies and co-driver Michael Gilbey held their nerve to claim their second Lampeter and District Motor Club Rali Bro Caron success in three years - on what proved a remarkably dry evening.

With 2019 winners Kevin Davies and Alan James seeing their challenge scuppered by a puncture on their Escort, Davies and Gilbey went on to claim superb victory in the ‘IDZ’ Subaru Impreza.

John Davies and Eurig Davies took runners-up spot and Class One honours in their Vauxhall Astra, after being hunted down by George Williams and Aled Richards in a Ford Escort. Mike Roberts and Dafydd-Sion Lloyd took fourth, with Arwel Evans and Nick Bloxham in fifth.

“This rally remains close to my heart and although I may seem biased, it is one that remains one of the absolute best in the road rally calendar,” said Davies. “Hats off to Dafydd Evans, Cadog Davies and all at Lampeter and District Motor Club for another fantastic event.

“After a long run of bad luck, and still refusing to give up, I had stripped IDZ bare, and spent the last month rebuilding her from the ground up, and we just took our whole approach back to the basics. We didn’t take a single risk. We went out purely for enjoyment, avoided putting a foot wrong, and were rewarded.”

Round One of the Welsh Road Rally Championship, Rali Bro Caron received almost 130 entries, but even with a long reserve list, only 87 cars took the start, three fewer than the maximum allowed due to a large number of withdrawals.

Competition started just south of Cwmann, and Davies and Gilbey were soon in contention with last year’s winners Kevin Davies/Alan James and John Davies/Eurig Davies in the top three.

This was despite their Impreza breaking a shaft, but they were able to lock the axle and change the damaged part in a non-competitive section, with the drama having cost them around 20 seconds.

Welsh Champions Mark Lennox/Ian Beamond, were already out; they had been struggling with the steering on their Escort and when they picked up a puncture, they decided to throw in the towel.

Meanwhile Matthew Jones/Richard ‘Tyson’ Morris were another crew who failed to make it to the petrol halt; with their Astra suffering a broken wheel.

Petrol was taken at Llandovery, with a regroup to allow crews to get back on to their scheduled time. Davies/Gilbey led by 27 seconds, with Davies/James in second, six seconds ahead of Davies/Davies.

Gavin Edwards/Daniel Jones were in fourth, but were struggling with the loss of some lighting and they had to retire in the second half with electrical problems.

Kevin Davies/Alan James unfortunately saw their challenge end when their Escort picked up a puncture, with the wheel coming off the rim, and as they battled up a hill they slipped into a ditch.

They eventually got going, but had to cut out much of the remaining route. They took fastest time on the final section, but, from first place last year, they finished last, with the Wooden Spoon.

Seeing their rivals’ stranded Escort, Davies and Gilbey could ease off, and although George Williams/Aled Richards was hunting down Davies/Davies, the last section saw both crews finish with a penalty of 56 seconds, so Davies/Davies took second, 1m 50s behind the winners.

Gari Evans and Richard Williams took the Class Two Expert honours in a Ford Escort, from Rhodri Evans and Geraint Jones in a BMW 318, and Daniel Williams and Shaun Richards in a BMW 318Ti.

Ioan Lloyd and Dylan Evans won the Class Three Semi Experts in an Escort, from Michael Roberts and Natasha Roberts, in an Escort, and Wyn Hughes and Elgan Davies third in BMW Compact Ti.

In the Class Four Novices Elian Lewis and Ryan Jones won in a Ford Fiesta, with Llyr Davies and Gareth Jones second in a Proton Satria, and Iwan Hands-Davies and Tomos Evans third in a Peugeot 206.

The Highest Placed Mixed Crew was Claire Lennox and Rhodri Evans in a Nissan Micra, and the Highest Placed Under 1400cc car was the Micra of Daniel Owens and Jenny Evans. Alan Gaunt and Carl Williamson won the Highest Placed Lampeter MC award crew in an Escort.

Windy Corner Coaches Rali Bro Caron: Top 10: 1 Andy Davies, Michael Gilbey, Subaru Impreza 9:59; 2 John Davies, Eurig Davies, Vauxhall Astra 11:49; 3 George Williams, Aled Richards, Ford Escort 12:03; 4 Mike Roberts, Dafydd-Sion Lloyd, Ford Escort 12:39; 5 Arwel Evans, Nick Bloxham, Ford Escort 13:00; 6 Gari Evans, Richard Williams, Ford Escort 13:34; 7 Richard Jerman, Ryan Griffiths, Ford Escort 14:06; 8 Mark ‘GT’ Roberts, Dylan Jenkins, VW Golf 14:45; 9 Rhodri Evans, Geraint Jones, BMW 15:24; 10 Daniel Williams, Shaun Richards, BMW 318Ti 16:37.