HEREFORDSHIRE co-driver Keaton Williams continued his whistle-stop tour of Europe with Josh McErlean by taking an excellent third overall on the Rally di Alba in Italy.

The Italian event offered 105 kilometres of asphalt roads in the Alba region which attracted a huge 186-car entry with 39 R5 cars plus two World Rally Car machines so there was plenty of opposition for McErlean.

The pairing were in their Motorsport Ireland, PCRC prepared Hyundai i20R5.

The format was three loops of stages in soaring temperatures, but the duo got off to a very good start which set standard for the day placing fourth overall at the of stage three and second R5 machine.

“It’s been a good start but by god its hot, it will be tricky now on the second loop with the gravel being pulled out on the stages,” said McErlean.

The second loop was again trouble free and moved the duo up to the bottom step of the podium with the final loop to come.

“If we can hold the pack behind us off this will be a terrific result for the team, but the stages are now very tricky with gravel everywhere, and its still hot,” added McErlean.

With no dramas on the final loop the duo returned to Alba in a superb third overall.

“We’re over the moon, the stages have been mega today,” said Williams.

“A massive thanks to Phillip Case and his PCRS team for a faultless car yet again, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and Hyundai Customer Racing Junior Team.

“We’ve learned a lot this weekend.”

Next up for the duo is a return to Italy for the European Rally Car encounter Rali di Roma.

Another crew in scintillating form is that of Josh Payton and Jamie Vaughan who took victory on the recent Wildlife Stages at Smearthorpe near Taunton.

The duo were using the event for match practice ahead of the final two MSN Circuit Championship rounds.

A very strong entry of 65 cars with a strong 4-wd category lined up to tackle the eight stages.

In very hot conditions the duo got off to a good start leading by five seconds after stage two.

However, a rebuilt chicane caught the duo out and they hit the front hard into some bales losing around 10 seconds.

But from trailing the Mitsubishi Lancer of Andy Vey by five seconds going into stage four, a change to harder compound tyres they gradually overhauled the previous two-time winner Vey to win by 13 seconds.

“Its always nice to win and it was tough, but the main reason we’re here is seat time ahead of the final two Circuit Championship rounds in July which are back to back, said Vaughan.

"They will be very tough so it's important we keep match fit."