GARY Smith’s racing nature came to the fore despite worries over damaging his new pride and joy at the Plains Rally in Welshpool.

Ludlow Castle’s Smith and co-driver Bryan Thomas arrived in the Dyfi Forest, Wales as 67th seeds for an event that was a round of the Welsh Stage Rally Championships.

It was a first outing for Corfton’s Smith in the recently-built Ford Escort Mk I but while he admitted to feeling a little apprehensive during the opening exchanges, he passed a rival before the end of the first stage.

And as the duo gradually got to grips with attacking the forest-based track in a new vehicle their pace increased, climbing to 37th overall and fourth in class having moved up to 50th by the end of that opening stage.

Father-and-son team Dave and Toby Brick were on board the giant-killing 1400 Vauxhall Nova and finished just behind Smith and Thomas in 39th overall and second in class to gain valuable championship points.

Ludlow filled the 40th position as well as Martley’s Colin Griffiths paired up with experienced co-driver Mike Wilding from Tenbury Wells in the BMW Compact.

Wilding reported a close encounter with the undergrowth on a square right but they survived to make it back to Welshpool to take second in class.

Keaton Williams’s run of bad luck continued as the Ludlow co-driver, out with Bridgnorth’s Duncan Williams in the four-door Mk II Escort, made only a short distance in the first stage before a half shaft broke, leaving the pair stranded on the apex of a hairpin.

The next scheduled meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club takes place on Wednesday, June 14 (8pm) at Ludlow Brewery. For more information, visit the website: ludlowcastlemotorclub.com