Paul Fowden Wins at Pembrey By The Smallest Of Margins

Paul Fowden and his son Mathias won the first big motorsport event of the year at Pembrey Circuit on Sunday (30 March) – when they clinched victory on the Kath Curzon Memorial Rally by the smallest of margins.

The lead swapped several times between Fowden in his Comline Subaru Impreza S11 WRC and Damian Cole in his Get Connected Citroën C3 Rally2, as no more than seven seconds separated them all day.

The final two stages were key, as Fowden found the right set up and tyres for the dry and sunny conditions and Cole was delayed slightly on the penultimate stage behind a slower car.

But it was Fowden who came out on top – winning by just one second.

Second place was a good result for Cole and co-driver Charlotte McGlashan – although Pembrey has never been the most successful hunting ground for the six-time Protyre Asphalt champion, as he’s only ever won one event there; the Christmas Stages 25 years ago!

Nigel Gibbard/Bedwyr Harries were the top-placed Darrian crew home in third, finishing three quarters of a minute behind in their T9 GTR.

Rob Tout/Terry Martin were fourth in their smart Ford Fiesta R5, ahead of the first of the Escorts – the magnificently sounding and hard driven Mk2 of Gavin Edwards/Adam Wilks.

Jonathan Elliot Jones/Jac Owens won their class in their rapid Ffostrasol Garage Vauxhall Corsa S1600, as did Mydrian Harries/Geraint Evans (Vauxhall Nova), Martin Rossiter/Sara Evan (Escort Mk2) and Richard Merriman/Sam Weller (The Roof Hub Darrian T9).

Matthew and Maddie Curzon – son and granddaughter of the late Kath Curzon – finished a flamboyant 13th in class / 36th overall in an Escort Mk2, having been given the honour of starting at car number one.

The event was also a round of the F1000 Junior Championship for 14 to 17 year old drivers, with Henri Cynwyl/Izzie Holman coming out on top in their Citroën C1.

Bathed in glorious spring sunshine, the opening round of the JD Tyres Welsh Tarmacadam Rally Championship attracted a big entry and highlighted that rallying in Wales is extremely buoyant at the moment.

The Port Talbot Motor Club-organised event raised funds for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Kath Curzon Memorial Rally – top 10 finishers

1. Paul Fowden/Mathias Fowden (Subaru Impreza S11 WRC)….46mins 57secs
2. Damian Cole/Charlotte McGlashan (Citroën C3 Rally2)….+01secs
3. Nigel Gibbard/Bedwyr Harries (Darrian T9 GTR)….+45secs
4. Rob Tout/Terry Martin (Ford Fiesta R5)….+1min 12secs
5. Gavin Edwards/Adam Wilks (Ford Escort MK2)….+1min 29secs
6. Craig Kampschulte/Kevin Lewis (Ford Escort MK2)….+1min 35secs
7. Chris Simmons/Frazer Moss (Darrian T90 GTR)….+1min 35secs
8. Richard Merriman/Sam Weller (Darrian T90)….+1min 42secs
9. Phil Turner/Paul Williams (Ford Fiesta R5)….+1min 58secs
10. Phillip Lloyd/Dean Wiltshire (Ford Escort RS2000)….+2mins 26secs