HEREFORDSHIRE Motor Club driver Tom Magnay has clinched overall victory in the 2018 Welsh Mixed Surface Rally Championship after taking maximum points in the final counting round.

The championship is unique, in that it includes rounds of some of the finest gravel and tarmac events on the British rally calendar, to form a challenging eight round championship.

A complete change of suspension, wheels, tyres and brakes are necessary to switch between the different surfaces, and this in itself provides a challenge for all competing teams to perfect the car set-up.

"We wanted to take part in this championship because it offered a good selection of some fantastic rallies, including a few of the best gravel rallies in Wales, gravel being my favourite surface to compete on!" explained Magnay.

The Morris Lubricants sponsored team led the series away after round one at Down Ampney, and further races followed on, including the Plains Rally and Red Kite Stages, all of which resulted in podium finishes for Magnay and his co-driver Sam Colman.

The championship lead was lost mid-season and Magnay dropped down to third overall.

However, with a very strong performance on the sodden asphalt of the Gareth Hall Rally in August, Magnay claimed maximum points to re-take the series lead.

After seven counting rounds of the Welsh Mixed Surface Championship, and the unfortunate cancellation of the Forest of Dean based Wyedean Stages - due to be held in early November - Magnay won the title by three points.

Magnay added: "Of course we'd rather have celebrated crossing the finish line at the Wyedean in November, but it has been a close and hard fought season with some experienced competitors this year, so we'll certainly enjoy this win.

"We have to thank the guys who have backed us this year, my team and my key sponsors BlendLine Apparel, Morris Lubricants, Automax and Powerflex," he added.