CO-DRIVER Keaton Williams had a somewhat frustrating Renties Ypres Rally alongside Irishman Josh McErlean in there Peugeot 208 R2.

Round four of the British Rally Championship took crews to the classic roads of the Flanders region.

The Belgian classic regarded by many as the best event outside the World Rally Championship, offered the 96 International crews 278 kilometres of fast bumpy tarmac action, spread over two legs and 23 special stages.

Going into the event former Herefordshire College of Technology pupil Williams and his team-mate held the lead in the junior British Rally Championship series and were looking to consolidate the series lead.

This year's event had seen a major route shake up, with Friday's opening leg of nine tests totalling some 92 kms, in beautiful summer sunshine.

After a good start the duo held second junior and 34th after stage four, but sheared wheel studs on the famous Kemmelberg stage, the final one of the opening loop meant retirement.

Super Rally rules allowed them to rejoin for Saturday's 186kms of high speed action.

Saturday saw the duo restart from 76th and ninth junior BRC contender, it was now a case of game management and try and salvage some good points.

The extreme temperatures started to take its toll on the weary cars entering the events final leg, and Williams' crew managed to climb back up to 52nd and fourth BRC junior home.

"In the end it was good to come away with some good points, but before the start we had a good feeling with the car after the test, and we're disappointed with having to use super rally on Friday," said Williams

"This event is really tough, you need big commitment here and the roads get dirtier after every loop. It's easy to overstep the mark and finish in a ditch, but it is a superb event to do, despite the heat this year."

At the head of the field Irish duo Craig Breen and Paul Nagle in a BMA prepared Volkswagen Polo R5, the former Citroen driver was embroiled in a battle with Dutch star Kevin Abbring in a similar car, but the Dutchman made a mistake on Friday evening, leaving the former Citroen driver with a 24 second lead overnight.

Saturday saw Breen control the rally with a string of fastest times, to arrive back in Ypres on Saturday night with a victory margin of 45 seconds, from Abbring with reigning Belgian champion Kris Princen just 13 seconds behind Abbring, making it a Volkswagen one, two and three on the podium.

British champion Matt Edwards took top BRC points in sixth in the Swift Group Ford Fiesta, with Tom Cave's Hyundai in seventh, and the Fiesta of Scot Alex Laffey in ninth.