motorsport

Best of the Irish entry was Josh Moffett who finished sixth overall in his Ford Fiesta R5.

Other local drivers in the top ten, Jonny Greer finished eighth ahead of Keith Cronin both at the wheel of Citroens and Desi Henry finished tenth in a Skoda.

Winner Evans and Ahlin had enjoyed a terrific battle in WRC2 on last month’s World Rally Championship round held in Sweden, where Ahlin had a puncture, and they picked up where they left off in Wales.

The Mid Wales Stages was the first event of the new British Rally Championship era. The switch to R5, S2000 and RRC cars saw 20 such cars boost the WRC2 field.

The Championship moves to Northern Ireland next month and to the Circuit of Ireland.

Event Director Bobby Willis is forecasting that 40 of the new R5 cars will be appearing as the Circuit is round three of the FIA European Rally Championship.

Paul Blair won the Sam Bowden Garage Services Autotest organised by the Autotest Driver’s Club staged at Carn near Portadown.

Second was Peter Grimes with David Thompson third.

and class wins went to Peter Grimes, Paul Blair, Norman Ferguson and David Thompson.