For the fifth & sixth rounds of the Mini Cup Championship and the seventh & eighth of the Cat 1 the HRCR series moved to the military training area at Sennybridge, more commonly known as Epynt.

Port Talbot Motor Clubs Tour of Epynt was a two day, double header event and our second visit to the venue this season but offering a very different challenge this time around.

The Saturday afternoon start from Llandovery gave the crews the opportunity to recce the stages on offer before heading out onto the ranges for four straight stages with a spread of 3 to 11 miles each without an intervening service with the Town Mayor flagging the competitors away from the ancient mart.

The usual last-minute panic of missing wheel nuts and non-illuminating brake lights were quickly overcome with the beg, steal and borrow camaraderie found within the HRCR contenders….no names-no pack drill!

A pleasant and scenic transport section followed to warm up both cars and crews before the competition started.

Harvey Stevens & Craig Hardiman Ready to Start the “New Road”

So tight was the competition that only 11 seconds separated the front runners of Shane Gamble/Julia Perry and Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan even with a couple of seconds handed back to O’Hanlon & Hogan as they were confronted by an outside vehicle at the end of the stage. Eric Davis/Russell Joseph pushed hard into third and Harvey Stevens/Craig Hardiman laying forth overnight.

Morning broke with an overcast Epynt and some overnight rain but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the crews although it did dampen the dust on the forest link transport section and where would be without some rain at Epynt?

Even though Sunday’s schedule was also four stages each boasted over 13 miles from east to west and vice versa utilising the whole of the training area. This necessitated a lot of negotiating with the MoD as the organisers were then able to use sections that haven’t been used competitively for many years…well done them.

Normal service resumed on SS5 with Gamble pushing hard to keep his overnight advantage only to find out at service that O’Hanlon’s mini suffered an electrical problem on stage loosing about ten minutes whilst the problem was solved….a broken HT being the culprit.

Andrew O’Hanlon and Kevin Hogan Before their Electrical Issue

rThis gave the chasing Minis of Davis and Stevens all the incentive they needed to press-on but alas Stevens succumbed to a differential malady as the car had a mind of its own in the directional field and the wise decision to retire the car was made at the second service.

All Gamble and Perry needed to do was get to the finish line to secure the win and the points needed for the championship which they did in fine style.

Given the earlier problems bestowed on O’Hanlon & Hogan they were resigned to third Mini with Davis & Joseph picking up second place.

The rally’s H1 Class was also won by Shane Gamble & Julia Perry to put icing on a very edible cake.

Shane Gamble now leads the drivers Championship and Kevin Hogan the co-drivers with Gamble also on top of Cat 1 and Julia Perry as top Cat 1 co-driver.

Eric Davis and Russell Hot off the Start

Harvey Stevens didn’t go away empty handed as he picked up both the Exol Oil and Snap-on sponsor prizes for day 1 and Shane Gamble also collecting an Exol Oil prize. The Questmead award of a set of brake pads went to Eric Davis for the best improvement on seeding starting at 95th and crossing the line at 64^th.

Another military training area of Warcop beckons very quickly as the Pendragon Stages is next up in quick succession before a six-week break and the closed road rally in the Telford area, the Hills Ford Stages Rally.

Shane Gamble and Julia Perry – Championship Leaders