HUGH Hunter & Andy Marchbank (pictured) set the early pace on this year's Wyedean Rally with the fastest time in Chepstow Park.
Their Ford Focus WRC blitzed the stage in 5mins 35secs, with Tom Cave & Craig Parry (Mitsubishi Evo 10) five seconds behind them.
Andy Burton & Robin Kellard (Peugeot Cosworth) lurked menacingly in their rear view mirror, clocking 5mins 42secs, with Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Ford Focus) recording an identical time.
Paul Bird, Roger Duckworth, David Wright, Nik Elsmore, Roger Chilman and Jason Pritchard made up the early top 10.
In Serridge One Burton made his move – taking five seconds off Hunter to close the gap to two seconds.
Paul Bird & Kirsty Riddick (Ford Focus) were the only other crew to post a sub 5mins 50secs time.
In Speech House, the longest stage of the event, Bird made his move with the fastest time of 12mins 32secs, but Burton was almost as impressive, just a second slower.
A three way fight for supremacy was now developing with Burton five seconds ahead of both Hunter and Bird in the overall standings after three stages.
Burton was quickest around the racecourse too, before strengthening his position on the penultimate stage, Mailscot.
The Herefordshire farmer was fastest in 6mins 04secs, with Hugh Hunter's challenge fading fast following a spin that cost him 25 seconds. He finished way down in 18th position.
Nik Elsmore showed his class by finishing second fastest in Mailscot in an impressive 6mins 09secs.
Roger Duckworth, Roger Chilman and David Wright (Evo 9) made up the top five, with Bird just outside.
The upshot was that Burton went into the final stage, Serridge Two, with a 25 second advantage over Superbikes supremo Bird.
Hunter was now 31 seconds behind Burton and just four seconds in front of fourth placed Roger Duckworth & Mark Broomfield (Evo 9).
Hunter had the consolation of being fastest in Serridge Two, but Burton came in five seconds behind him to clinch a magnificent sixth Wyedean crown.
He ended the day 20 seconds clear of runner-up Bird.