Payne Rallies To Asphalt Victory On Anglesey

By Paul Evans

Charlie Payne and Carl Williamson won the Pentraeth Automotive Group Glyn Memorial Stages at the weekend in their Ford Fiesta WRC.

The Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Motor Club-organised 65-stage mile single venue event took place at the Anglesey Circuit in Ty Croes, with Payne eventually winning by just over two minutes.

Mark Kelly/Neil Colman put in a great class winning performance to finish runners-up in their Ford Escort, while Wesley Simpson/Joe Ford took third in their Proton Millington S2500. Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff were fourth in their Ford Fiesta R5, while Eric Roberts/Iwan Pritchard won their class and finished fifth in their Ford Escort.

Other class winners included Ben Wilkinson/Andrew Wilkinson (Citroen Saxo) and Dion Rowlands/Kai Alcock (Vauxhall Corsa) who finished an excellent 12th and 13th overall respectively.

There were a number of notable retirements, including last year’s rally winners William Owen/Paul Maund in their Ford Escort. Roger Moran/Ashley Trimble broke a wheel bearing in their Darrian T90 GTR+, Chris Berry/Heather Merrison broke the steering on their Escort, Eifion Wyn Thomas/Robyn Gwynedd Jones snapped a half-shaft in their Escort and Chris Row/Jayne Auden-Row (MG ZR) and Brynli Thomas/Caian Williams (Peugeot) were forced out with gearbox problems. Meanwhile, engine problems put a halt to the challenge of Matt Pierce/Jez Rogers (Ford Escort), Gethin Sharp/Kate Bannister (Nissan Micra) and Huw Roberts/Joe Davies (Ford Escort).

Glyn Memorial Stages – top 10 finishers
1. Charlie Payne/Carl Williamson (Ford Fiesta WRC)….65:05
2. Mark Kelly/Neil Colman (Ford Escort)….67:08
3. Wesley Simpson/Joe Ford (Proton Millington S2500)….68:06
4. Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5)….68:35
5. Eric Roberts/Iwan Pritchard (Ford Escort)….69:44
6. Lee Jones/Lewis Griffiths (Mitsubishi Evo)….70:04
7. Mark Smith/Tim Nunn (Ford Escort RS2000)….70:22
8. Scott Moran/Chris Ridge (Ford Escort)….70:34
9. Carwyn Ellis/Dion Morley (Ford Escort)….70:41
10. Tom Barber Chris Ransley (BMW Compact)….70:45