RALLY veterans Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley coped best with the icy conditions to win an action-packed Wyedean Rally by more than three minutes.

However, the class they showed to finish first was matched by an incredible act of sportsmanship towards long-time rally leader Hugh Hunter.

When Hunter found himself without a spare tyre after his third puncture of the day, his closest rivals stopped to offer him one of theirs.

Sadly for Hugh, the wheel did not fit his car and his race was over.

Ripon-based Charlie has been involved in motorsport for 35 years, but only won his first national rally last season. This was national win number two.

"It's a special trophy and a special event," said co-driver Craig.

The pair were forced to play catch-up after the first stage in Sallowvallets, where a puncture left them 40 seconds off the pace. On a dry day they might not have caught the leaders, but by Speech House their Ford Focus was flying – drawing up behind overall runner-up Shaun Gardener (Mitsubishi Evo) through Speech House. Craig said: "I don't think the conditions suited anyone but our car has good traction.

"Shaun said he had never been caught on a stage before in 26 years of rallying.

"The last time I've raced in such difficult conditions was probably the Wyedean in 1986.

"Racing in snow is fine, you can get grip, but ice is much tougher.

"We found the first stage very difficult and Charlie reckoned I called a bend too late. I reminded him of one of his favourite sayings 'mirrors are history, windscreens are the future'.

"We caught a tree in Trelleck and drove two miles with part of it wedged against the windscreen.

"The stages in Chepstow and Trelleck were probably worst affected by ice because they don't see much sun."