CARNFORTH'S Nick Payne and Anthony Preston steered their Ford Cortina GT to outright victory on the Ross Traders Historic Tour to score maximum class points in the fifth round of the Safety Devices Historic Rally.
The duo survived a deceptively tough one-day jaunt through the Gloucester and Hereford lanes to complete the 120 mile route a scant 17 seconds penalties ahead of the Mini Cooper S of non-challenge registered Dick and Mark Appleton.
With six regularity sections and eight driving tests, the Ross and District Club event was not the walk-over many of the leading crews thought before the Dean Heritage Centre start.
Only the top ten finishers from the 60 plus entry reached the Ross on Wye finish without incurring fails.
Although Nick scored his second maximum Safety Devices points in two events, another class win for ninth overall Iain Patterson keeps the MGB man from Aylesbury at the top of the driver's table, increasing the gap over Pesticcio to ten points.
But with two out of four events now complete, Nick Payne, Roger Ray (Escort) and Nick Akers top the rally division of the series. The Challenge moves next to the final round of the Stage division, the Woodpecker Forest Stages on September 5/6.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article