HEREFORDSHIRE Motor Club's Darren and Sue Underwood wheeled out their 1600cc Nova to gain a class win in the NHMC Cadwell Park Stages Rally.

A poor start by the husband and wide team saw them lose 20 seconds on the first stage.

Darren said: "We knew it would cause a problem with two-and-a-half laps around the circuit, pit lane and chicanes," said Darren.

"On a tight hairpin, a Fiesta stalled and blocked the road, we could do nothing else but sit and wait for it to clear the track."

Despite their frustrations, the Leominster couple managed to pull off several overtaking manoeuvres during the eight stages, with the latter two being run in darkness, and a strong challenge saw them climb up the results to finish 13th overall and a comfortable class win.

"Had we not been held up as much, our result would have easily been a top 10 placing, but it was great to rally the Crystal Images Award Nova again after a year of using the Escort G3," added Sue.

Their championship standings after this rally saw Darren lying 10th driver overall and Sue seventh co-driver.

Also representing Herefordshire Motor Club was the Ford Escort piloted car of Roger Moran and Joy Hoyle.

They had a trouble-free day with only a couple of hold-ups around the Lincolnshire circuit and finished seventh overall fifth in class.

Bromyard’s Phil Skipp also finished 40th overall and 10th in class, in their Astra GSi.