Members from Ludlow Castle Motor Club were among those taking part in the Brean Stages Rally, a two-day 52-mile event over 12 Tarmac special stages based at Brean Leisure Park, near Weston-Super-Mare.

Lee Halfpenny and Tom Bemand, from Tenbury Wells, were making a rare outing in their Tenbury Autotech, Beamond Contracts, Plantech UK sponsored Ford Escort MkII. Seeded at 27 they were hopeful of a top 20 finish.

Also in action was young co-driver Jack Bowen in only his fourth rally. He was alongside Leominster’s John Petrie in a Peugeot 106 GTI. Petrie had spent much of the week leading up to the rally trying to sort out a persistent misfire, but the pair made it to the start hopeful that they had cured the problem. Sponsored by Andrew Bowen Transport, RallyCUK and John Petrie Motorsport they were seeded at 81.

Despite a lack of seat time, Halfpenny/Beamond got off to an impressive start with the sixth fastest time on the opening stage and although they were ninth on the next stage they maintained their sixth place overall.

Unfortunately they hit a kerb on the third stage and bent the Escort’s suspension. The damage affected the car’s handling at high speeds and, with the weather conditions better suiting the four-wheel drive cars, they slipped down the order but were still pleased to finish 17th overall and fourth in class.

Petrie/Bowen reported very slippy conditions but worked well on their first rally together with their only incident coming on the fifth stage when a bad bump saw the car pitch up onto its nose coming into a sharp right hand bend!

The crew quickly settled down again though and finished 55th overall and 20th in class.

The club’s next meeting is on Wednesday, February 10, from 8pm at the Ludlow Brewing Company with the annual prize presentation dinner and dance arranged for Saturday, February 6. Tickets are available from Mark Kinsey 07801 693664.