LUDLOW Castle Motor Club’s Simon Mellings claimed his second overall victory when he guided his Mk1 Toyota MR2 to the honours in the St Wilfrids Rally, the latest round of the Historic Rally Car Register Clubmans Championship.

As is the norm with these type of events, most of the mileage took place on the public roads with the emphasis on accurate navigation and controlled driving, penalties being handed out for late and early arrival at hidden controls. This mileage is interspersed with tests which are all held on private ground.

Such is his growing reputation, Mellings was seeded second and was ably assisted by experienced navigator Ryan Pickering.

The rally began with a number of tests and a couple of regularity sections before the mid-morning break and despite a small off on one of the tests the pair held a slender lead.

They then opened up a substantial advantage thanks to some faultless navigation and they were nearly two minutes clear at the end.

Mellings now leads his category in the championship and will be hoping to extend that lead when he completes at the Vale of Clwyd Classic next month.

Club members took part in an Autotest organised by Richard Stewardson and courtesy of landowner Michael Davies. The event, great for learning all about car control, involved negotiating a series of tests set out and defined by cones. Scott Mathews took a narrow victory being just two seconds quicker than Matt Pugh. Phil Clarke was third ahead of Chris Mansfield.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held on Wednesday, September 13, from 8pm at the Ludlow Brewing Company. All are welcome.