Unless otherwise clearly indicated, results on this site have been declared final and are therefore not subject to query or protest
Clerk of the Course: Dafydd 'Budgie' Williams & Carwyn Jones
Route: 100 Miles
Maps: 146
Starters: 60
Winners: Gareth 'Gog' Jones/Owen Dodd (Ford Escort XR3i)
Gareth Jones/Owen Dodd (Ford Escort XR3i) took a narrow victory on Lampeter MC's Rali Dyffryn Aeron. This was the driver's first outright win.
The closed to club event attracted a capacity 60 car entry and proved a stern challenge as the autumn weather had left the West Wales lanes in a treachorous state. There were numerous reports of brushes with the scenery. Fog in the second half just added to the problems.
At the Finish Jones/Dodd were only eleven seconds ahead of Aled Evans/Eryl Evans, who made the most of their 4x4 Sierra's grip in the slippery conditions.
The 1998 winners, Wyn Thomas/Jon Hands (Ford Escort), were third; running first car on the road they dropped a minute looking for a tricky slot however the marks they left made it easier for following crews to find the correct route. Valley Services winners, Arwyn Thomas/Andy Bowen (Ford Escort) were fourth, with the Nova of Keith Daniels/Iestyn Leyshon in fifth.
Gary Jones/Andy Oakes (Toyota Corolla) took sixth and the Standard Production Award; they could have been higher but lost a minute after a mix up a regularity time control. Clive Wakeley/Carl Williamson (Ford Escort) dropped to seventh place after picking up a puncture on a crucial section.
Eighth and ninth places were decided on a tie break. Matthew Warner/John Gilbey (Vauxhall Astra) and Richard Briddon/Wyn Lewis (Toyota Starlet) both ended on the same penalty, but Warner/Gilbey had been one second quicker on the first section. Briddon/Lewis did however have the consolation of picking up the top Semi-Expert award. Gwynfor Jones/Aled Richards (Peugeot 205), reversing their usual navigator/driver roles, won the Novice class
There were very few retirements among the top crews although Clive Williams/Patrick Walsh and Hefin George/Dilwyn John failed to take the start. Nigel and Karen Davies were expected to do well but retired in the first half after a halfshaft broke on their Escort.
Gethin Lewis/Aled Jones had an unhappy event - a rear shock broke on their Escort early in the rally and they then picked up large penalties after a time was incorrectly entered on their time card. Martyn O'Connor/Peter Collins were going well but a mistake at a three metre control meant they picked up a fail.
TOP TEN RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Gareth 'Gog' Jones | Owen Dodd | Ford Escort XR3i | 1m 31s | |
2 | Aled 'Cacen' Evans | Eyrl Evans | Ford Sierra XR4x4 | 1m 42s | |
3 | Wyn Thomas | Jon Hands | Ford Escort | 3m 04s | |
4 | Arwyn Thomas | Andy Bowen | Ford Escort | 3m 11s | |
5 | Keith Daniels | Iestyn Leyshon | Vauxhall Nova | 4m 36s | |
6 | Gary Jones | Andy Oakes | Toyota Corolla | 4m 39s | |
7 | Clive Wakeley | Carl Williamson | Ford Escort | 4m 56s | |
8 | Matthew Warner | John Gilbey | Vauxhall Astra | 5m 04s | |
9 | Richard Briddon | Edryd Evans | Toyota Starlet | 5m 04s | |
10 | Chris Painter | Steve Quine | Vauxhall Nova | 5m 52s |