CRAIG Drew made a triumphant return to British rallying, writes Paul Willetts, with a hard fought victory on last weekend’s Stephens & George Harry Flatters Rally on the Epynt military ranges.

Drew teamed up with former driver Damian Cole in the Get Connected backed Fiesta WRC.

Brecon Motor Club attracted just over 100 entries for the 72 competitive miles crammed into five long stages.

The event was also a round of the Mintex/Fuchs RAC Historic and Asphalt series.

Cole and Drew got off to the worst possible start with a high speed fifth gear off about three miles from the end of the opening test, causing a double puncture and losing around 45 seconds to Andy Fraser’s V6 Darrian GTR.

“It was not the way to start the event,” Drew said.

“We went light over a fast right-hander with a bump and shot off over grass and scrub and through gorse bushes.

“We were very lucky to get away so lightly really, Epynt is not usually that forgiving.”

But fastest times on stages two and three, they started to reel in the flying Darrian.

Another fastest time on stage four saw Fraser lose 20 seconds with a spin, the duo held a 10-second lead with one to go.

Another fastest time saw them take victory, but sadly for Fraser a fire on the final test caused extensive damage to the Darrian and retirement.

“It’s really good to come back to Epynt and win, we had a bit of luck early on but we then had to push hard,” Drew added.

“I got Damian braking later, and pushing him on, which were reflected in our stages times, and he drove very well.”

Also in the modern event, Ross MC members Matt Davis and Russell Joseph took an excellent 30th overall and second in class in the Roberts Plant Peugeot 106.

On Davis’ first visit to Epynt they had an issue with the engine killswitch, but a huge amount of insulation tape sorted the problem.

In the historic event Ross co-driver Paul Morris teamed up with Simon Tysoe in the Jondel Race Engines Escort RS1600 to continue their excellent run of results with fifth overall, first in post historic and first in class after a trouble-free event.

They now hold 2nd overall in the championship.