LUDLOW’S Simon Mellings has won his first historic road rally.

Mellings and navigator Ryan Pickering travelled to Sevenoaks, in Kent, to take part in the Hughes Historic Rally organised by Blackpalfrey Motor Club. The event, a round of the Historic Rally Car Register Premier Rally Championship, covered 130 miles and included regularity sections on public roads and special tests held on private ground.

Competing in his home-prepared Toyota MR2 MKI (1985), which he also drove to and from the event, fourth seed Mellings became the first person to win an event such as this in a Category 4 car – vehicles built between 1982 and 1985.

The majority of the mileage took place on public roads where the emphasis is on accurate navigation and controlled driving where competitors are penalised for late or early arrival at hidden controls. Mellings/Pickering finished second in this section just behind the Mercedes-Benz of Ian Crammond/Mathew Volkes.

On the special tests Mellings utilised his stage rally experience to finish second but with Crammond/Volkes only managing sixth his consistency paid off to secure a deserved and popular victory. Mellings is now category and championship leader.