Herefordshire Motor Club's Darren and Sue Underwood's rally championship hope over (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire Motor Club's Darren and Sue Underwood's rally championship hope over

4:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport

A RETIREMENT at the Mewla Rally, based on the Royal Welsh Showground, has put paid to the 2012 REIS-Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship hopes of Herefordshire Motor Club pairing Darren and Sue Underwood.

An incorrect choice of tyre compound hindered the opening two stages but the Leominster couple held a one-second advantage.

At service, harder compound tyres were fitted and a repeat of the two stages was on offer, resulting in 13 seconds being taken off their first loop times.

However, the Escort team and class challengers of Kevin and Charles Tappin were now a second ahead of the D-Mack Nova 1600 duo whose part in the battle ended when approaching a down-hill sharp left-hand bend.

The car locked up and skidded into a barrier, resulting in the front driver’s wheel-hub shearing and forcing them into retirement.

Three other HMC crews also took part, with a late entry in a newly-acquired Subaru Impreza from Jay Stanley.

He and co-driver Theresa Fossey struggled with the pace and a transmission failure spelt early retirement at the start of the fourth test. Abergavenny’s Brian and Ian Davis had a good day’s competition in their new Mk 2 Escort, finishing 25th overall and fifth in class. Rob Hansford from Bartestree was co-driving for Rachael Patterson and guided her to 56th overall and third in class.