Aberystwyth based Steve Wood and co-driver Aled Richards, from Ciliau Aeron, took yet another strong result in their new Citroen C2 Max when the pair drove to 15th overall and fourth in class on last weekends Apex Motor Parts Welsh Marches Mini Epynt Stages.
Wood and Richards were aiming to contest the rally purely to gain more mileage in the new car, but such is the popularity of this event that they were on the reserve list until Thursday night! Despite the short notice that they were actually doing the rally, the pair acquitted themselves well. Although the settings on the car were not perfect in the morning Wood soon had the car behaving as he wanted and began to climb the leaderboard, ending the ten stage rally a mere five seconds behind the car in front!
Wood said: “It was really good to get more seat time in the car as it is all still very new to us. The suspension was a bit soft in the morning but after a quick phone call to Geoff Jones we made some adjustments and it was much better in the afternoon! Once again we owe a big thanks to Derek Rattray and Wyn Jones and family for assisting us all weekend!”
2010 is Steve and Aleds’ first full season of stage rallying and after six rounds the pair had a solid lead in their class and are currently lying third overall in the Welsh Tarmacadam Rally Championship!
The next event for the pairing is the Mid Summer Stages at Caerwent, which takes place on 20 June.
– Credit: Geoff Mayes Media.