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- Edwards Puts Icing On His British Rally Championship Cake In Llandudno
Matt Edwards clinched the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship finale to put the icing on the cake following his title win, sealed on the penultimate round earlier in the weekend at Dayinsure Wales Rally GB.
The Llandudno-based driver led an M-Sport one-two on the last BRC event of the 2018 campaign as Alex Laffey bought home his Ford Fiesta R5 into his best-ever result in Britain’s top flight with a fine second – a position he would also secure in the championship.
Steve Rokland survived the demanding rally to bring his Peugeot 208 R2 into third overall and with it the Junior BRC title.
After sealing the crown following the first round of the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB double-header, Pirelli-backed Edwards was let off the leash and set about climbing the overall WRC leaderboard to end the year on a high with a win.
He enjoyed a day-long battle with Scotsman David Bogie in a DMACK Skoda Fabia R5 over the fast and flowing mid Wales stages.
Coming into the final day of the season, Edwards trailed and had no answer for the Scot until a mistake by Bogie on Stage 20 handed the lead to the Welsh star. Along with fellow countryman Darren Garrod in the co-drivers seat, the pair notched up their fourth win of the season to top-off a stellar year in the championship’s 60th anniversary season.
Following Edwards home in the rally and in the championship was Laffey. He has made good progress this season, and proved consistency can build a title tilt. Despite not finishing the final round, David Bogie finished third in the series after clinching his first win of the season earlier in the event.
Edwards said: “Today has been difficult as we didn’t start with a great feeling in the car. That was rare for me as the car has been great all weekend and I was trying lots of things to rectify it. We have learnt a lot this season to manage good and bad situations and it was great to come home with another win.
“I really enjoyed the Great Orme stage and the home atmosphere, I really enjoyed it and it was great to see it packed with everyone enjoying themselves.
“The title success hasn’t hit us yet as we put everything into the weekend and it was only on the drive back from the finish that we started to think about the year we had and what it all means. We can’t wait to celebrate and let it all properly sink in.”
Prestone MSA British Rally Championship Driver Standings
Matt Edwards – 120
Alex Laffey – 64
David Bogie – 61
Rhys Yates – 51
Steve Rokland – 39
James Williams – 33
Keith Cronin – 30
Kevin Horgan – 19
Martin McCormack – 12
Jonathan Greer – 10
