This was a new event for the Mini cup and Cat 1 championships. A closed road event with 2 stages Saturday afternoon and 10 stages on Sunday.
Nine Minis had entered and three cars for the Cat 1 championships, sadly Eric Davies had to withdraw his entry just before the start but his co-driver Russel Joseph managed to get a seat with Harvey Stevens in his mini.
Leading the cars away was Clive King and Anton Bird at car number 86, with the remaining cars all close together but in the early hundred numbers.
The cars made their way to a ceremonial start in Ledbury town Centre where they were flagged away toward the first stage.
Quickest through the first stage was the TR4 of Stephen Hall and Aggie Foster with a time of 2.06 with Clive and Anton, Shane Gamble with Julia Perry setting beside him, setting the same time of 2.09 to top the mini crews. The rest of the pack were just behind.
The stages were extremely fast with sections flat in top gear for long periods.
Crews then went straight to the second stage where Stephen pulled another one second from Clive and Shane who again set the same time to head the mini crews, this was going to be a close battle.
Harvey Stevens with Russel Joseph were pleased with their pace and had great hopes to reel in the leading minis the following day.
Craig King with Ian Harrop sitting with him for the first time, were finding the speed of the car was out pacing the delivery of the notes, which most of the crews were suffering with as the delivery had to come fast as the cars were pulling over 100MPH.
With the overnight halt crews met up and exchanged tails of what had happened over a drink and food.
Sunday started sunny and bright the cars made their way to SS3 but there was a delay as a car had gone off but the organizers soon had the stage open again.
The TR4 shot through the stage 2, which was 7.27 miles in length, 2 seconds quicker than Clive, with Shane a further 4 seconds adrift. It was that close all the way through.
Paul Taylor with Jemma Taylor were pulling 8000 in top gear to maintain their position just behind the leading cars.
The next stage Clive had an overshoot at one junction but saved it with the use of the hand brake. Shane also had an indiscretion when he went off just catching a tree which caused a little damage.
Harvey was pushing only to slide wide and bent the steering rake which put him out.
Clive and Anton managed to finally match the times of Stephen and Aggie on stage 5 but both crews were on the limit. Stephen was saying he could not go any faster.
Crews made their way into service, but only were allowed 10 minutes before completing a further 2 stages.
Stephen continued to use the power of the TR to gain a few seconds from Clive who was a few seconds in front of Shane.
With a quick 30-minute service it was out again for another 3 stages. Shane broke a driveshaft, which he had to be recovered back to the service area to repair the car.
Andrew and Kevin were settling in with some impressive times only for a drive shaft to brake putting them out and spoiling a good result.
Stephen and Aggie continued to pull away. But sadly, in the last of the loops stage, Clive broke a throttle cable having to drive out of the stage and the 10-mile road section on a increased tick over, this put them out of contention.
With only a short 10-minute service Clive changed the cable to be able to continue. Shane had changed his drive shaft but had missed 2 stages but went out to do the last 2 stages.
Craig and Ian were trading times with Paul and Jemma and going into the last two stages Craig held a small lead.
With such a short service throughout the event none of the competitors knew who was still running and what times they had done, it was full on all day.
The remaining stages passed without drama and Stephen and Aggie were surprised to have won the Cat 1 in their TR4.
The Mini cup was won by a surprised Craig King and Ian Harrop who were just in front of the farther and daughter crew Paul and Jemma Taylor.
Clive and Anton crept in to 3rd mini home and second in Cat 1, with Shane just behind.
The Exol oil prize was won by Craig King.
Snap on prize, donated by Andrew Ohanlon, was won By Paul Taylor.
Best improvement in seeding, winning a set of Brake pads from Quest Mead, was won by Paul Taylor.
So finally, what did the crews think of the event, they all came away impressed with the stages and the way it ran.