THE Ludlow Castle Motor Club crews headed up to Cumbria for the third round of the British Historic Rally Championship.

A ceremonial start in Carlisle was followed by 50 miles in the infamous Kielder Forest, the largest man-made forest in Europe and well known for its ability to swallow rally cars whole!

Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke were looking to maintain their lead in the championship in the usual MkII Escort.

Unfortunately the eight-week lay-off saw the pair struggle on the first stage, ending up 11th and some 30 seconds off the lead.

A fightback then saw them set fifth and third quickest times to go into the service halt in fifth place.

Joe Price and Chris Brooks, in the Joe Price Supplies sponsored MkII Escort, produced the third and fourth quickest time on the first two stages and were fourth, but the good work was undone when they had a spin on the third stage and were beached on the edge of the road.

With no spectators in sight they lost four minutes trying to regain the road, and plummeted to 51st overall.

The new partnership of Jon Perrott and Keaton Williams in the Leominster Car Auctions MkI Escort produced a couple of good times over the first two stages for 14th place and second in class. However, the third-stage gremlins struck as a bearing went in the rear axle. Despite that they made it into service ninth overall and first in class.

Pritchard and Clarke stormed through the fourth stage only to lose their clutch, resulting in instant retirement.

But Price and Brooks didn’t hold back and climbed back to 27th overall.

With Perrott and Williams unable to fix the bearing they had no option other than to go out and try to finish the event.

They achieved their aim and finished 31st overall and sixth in class.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle MC is at 8pm on Wednesday at the Ludlow Brewing Company.