LUDLOW Castle’s Phil Clarke and driver Jason Pritchard reignited their British Historic Rally Championship hopes with a maximum haul on the Isle of Man.

The duo claimed a double victory at the 170-mile event to banish the memory of a mid-season crisis in which they suffered three retirements.

In their Ford Escort MkII, Pritchard and Clarke started strongly and were second after the first three evening stages, some 12 seconds in front of their main title rivals.

And by the end of stage four in the opener, the pair had overhauled leaders Ryan Barrett and Paul McCann who had lost 40 seconds to a misfiring engine.

Paul Barrett and Dai Roberts, who remain right among the chase for honours, were 45 seconds adrift before Pritchard opted for a gearbox change.

With no mishaps, the lead over Paul Barrett and Roberts had increased to more than a minute overnight.

In the final six stages and 60 miles, Pritchard and Clarke had their work cut out to protect their position with flying pair Ryan Barrett and McCann closing in throughout.

But an engine failure played right into the hands of Pritchard and Clarke, who stormed through the last two stages to finish in front of Paul Barrett and Roberts by one minute and 33 seconds.

The battle for the championship now goes down to the final event, the Trackrod Stages in Yorkshire in two weeks.

Ian Clare and Antony Elkes achieved their more modest ambition of simply finishing the rally.

Seeded 153rd, the pair defied a broken suspension arm to come in 83rd and second in their category.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held on October 12 at Ludlow Brewery (8pm). All are welcome.

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