LUDLOW Castle Motor Club duo Steve Davies and Lucy Wilding have netted podium finishes in the Association of West Midland Motor Clubs Heart of England Stage Rally Championship.

The pair recently travelled down to the Ministry of Defence Training Area at Caerwent to take part in the 58-mile six-stage Patriot Stages event.

They made a cautious start in their Renault Clio 172, respecting the fearsome reputation of the venue for breaking rally cars with its high kerbs, buildings and potholes.

The Clio emerged from the stage in 57th overall but as the day progressed they became more confident with the venue.

A 19th-fastest performance on the final stage saw them finish 26th overall on what the pair thought was their most difficult event to date.

The result saw them maintain their push for the Championship with Davies lying fifth overall and first in class and Wilding fourth overall and also leading her class.

A week later, the pair tackled the final round of the Championship, the Adgespeed Stages, held at the Three Sisters Karting Circuit near Wigan.

Seeded 22nd, the duo knew they had already secured the Championship Class win plus first female codriver and first front wheel drive.

Wilding admitted to a codriving error on stage two, costing them some time but it did not affect their Championship standings.

They spent the rest of the day clawing back positions and eventually brought the Clio home in 21st overall and fifth in class.

More importantly, Davies maintained his second place overall in the Drivers Championship while Wilding climbed up to second overall in the Codrivers category.

Codriver Jez Rogers also travelled to Wigan where he sat alongside Matt Pierce in his MKII Ford Escort in what would be Pierce’s first ever rally.

Despite the power steering breaking and the battery dying before the start, the pair recovered to finish 12th overall and second in class.