RELIEVED co-driver Phil Clarke reflected on a “character building year” after successfully defending the Historic Rally Championship crown alongside Jason Pritchard.

The dynamic duo only had to finish the Trackrod Historic Cup meeting in Yorkshire in order to lift the title but after a run of three successive retirements which had hampered their cause in the middle of the season, they could take nothing for granted.

Needing to up the ante in the final four legs, Pritchard and Clarke claimed a second spot and two rally victories to soar ahead at the top of the standings but still required a finish at the last to gain a crucial sixth qualifying score.

With the outcome still in the balance, the first seeds planned a steady drive through the Dalby Forest but still emerged from the dark, bumpy 10-mile stage in third place.

Some 44 miles through the forest followed and with the car running faultlessly, Pritchard inevitably eased off the gas to be caught by another car for only the second time in his rallying career.

The final six-mile leg went without a hitch, as did the 22-mile return for scrutiny with the silverware claimed for a second year in a row.

Clarke said: “It was fantastic. This has been a character building year and we’ve been under pressure to finish every round since our mid season disaster.

“Just one non-finish and that would have been it, championship over, so we were so pleased to have won it twice on the trot.”

Two other local competitors failed to finish with retirements at during stage two.

Bridgnorth’s Jez Rogers, co-driving for Simon Webster in his Ford Escort, saw his bid ended early by a problem that had plagued the pair all season.

The misfiring motor returned just 10 metres into the opening stage and despite the best efforts of the service crew, who changed pretty much everything they could on the engine, they retired on stage two of the event.

Ludlow’s Keaton Williams suffered a similar fate having entered the modern event.

Williams, sitting by Gee Atherton in his Ford Fiesta, managed to get through the first stage holding top spot in their in class but the clutch went, ending their hopes prematurely.

Ludlow Castle Motor Club held their monthly meeting on Wednesday at the Ludlow Brewery with the next scheduled for the second Wednesday of November (8pm). All are welcome.