LUDLOW Castle Motor Club’s Steve Davies and Lucy Wilding claimed a fifth-place class finish at Donington Park in the latest round of the Heart of England Rally Championship, the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally.

The event, organised by the Dukeries Motor Club, covered 55 tarmac stage miles split between seven stages.

Seeded 26th in their Renault Clio, the pair climbed to 24th overall and sixth in a very competitive two-litre class after the first three stages, despite heavy rain making the track slippery and tyre choice difficult.

With conditions improving, Davies and Wilding felt confident that they could push harder, although this brought its own problems with the front brakes overheating.

The high rate of tyre wear caused by an abrasive part of the surface also became an issue, with Davies having to judge his braking distances very finely.

Despite this he only admitted to one moment when the Clio clipped a tyre wall leaving a black mark along the side of the car.

The crew finished an enjoyable day in 21st place overall and fifth in class, leaving Davies lying sixth overall driver and first in class in the Championship with Wilding lying fourth overall co driver and also first in class.

The next round of the Championship will be the Patriot Stages towards the end of September at Caerwent in Monmouthshire.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held next Wednesday (September 12) starting at 8pm at the Ludlow Brewing Company Ltd, with all welcome.