HEREFORDSHIRE Motor Club were back on track with eight crews entering the 52-mile Brean Stages Rally at Brean Leisure Park in Somerset.

Top finishers overall were the pairing of Darren Underwood and Jim Lewis who overcame losing time with a couple of overshoots and a stall in the Crystal Images Awards Nova 1600 in extremely wet conditions to finish 12th overall and second in class.

There was a creditable performance from Tim Phelps and Elwyn Manuel who, despite not having competed on asphalt for many years, entered their recently acquired Escort Mk II and ended the two-day rally 23rd overall, collecting first in class.

Adrian Griffiths and Karolina Kunigiskye brought their Peugeot 206 home 24th overall, while Dean Davies was 26th in his Escort Mk II co-driven by the youngest HMC competitor, Lewis Mason.

The unique Renault 5 Turbo of Andrew Cooper and Caroline Price finished in 29th position.

Stuart Morley and Andrew Jay were the first HMC crew to retire after hitting a rock on stage two and damaging the rear beam on their Nova.

James Young and Ben Rolph were lying 33rd overall until an ignition switch problem on the Peugeot 306 forced them to retire after the ninth test.

Most disappointed were Brian and Ian Davis, when at the end of the penultimate stage, the Escort pairing hit a kerb damaging the suspension and forcing them to retire while lying eighth.

Herefordshire Motor Club are holding their annual dinner dance and awards presentation at the Three Counties Hotel with guest speaker and ex-works co-driver Mike Nicholson on Saturday, February 22.

Open to past and present Members, tickets are available from Jim Lewis on 07527 653675 or via the HMC website www.herefordshiremotorclub.co.uk