COLIN Griffiths leads his class in the Welsh Championship and sits second in the two-wheel drive category after picking up valuable points at the Severn Valley Stages.

Alongside co-driver Paul Price, Ludlow Castle Motor Club’s Griffiths finished 34th overall, fourth in class and 16th overall modern car at the event held in Builth Wells.

It was a faultless performance from the duo who also enjoyed kind fortunes with their BMW Compact to head their section in the overall standings.

Several Ludlow Castle members took part across 45 stage miles in the Crychan and Radnor Forests with the two historic crews participating for supremacy in the British Historic Stage Rally Championship.

Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke in the Ford Escort Mk II emerged from the first stage with a two-second lead over series leaders Nick Elliot and Dave Price.

Elliot proved his prowess in stage two by making back 10 seconds and despite Pritchard clawing back five of those in the final run, the Ludlow Castle man had to make do with second historic car and sixth overall.

Simon Webster and Jez Rogers, also in a Mk II Escort, required some early rewiring to pass scrutiny before climbing the ranks to 12th overall and fourth historic car by the end of stage two. The final round saw them finish 11th and third in class.

Simon Rogers and co-driver Wyn Davies had an overdue return to form after curing a few brake issues following the first loop.

In a Mitsubishi, they had a strong run through Radnor and the remaining stages to record 12th overall and eighth in the modern section of the event, despite a big overshoot at a downhill hairpin in Crychan which Rogers described as an overly-optimistic entry speed.

Freddie and Toby Brick dropped out after their Vauxhall Corsa suffered a gear linkage failure.