ROSS Motor Club’s Will Rogers joined Irishman Paul Barrett to secure a superb second place overall in their Escort RS1800 at the Red Kite Historic Stages.

The event was the latest round of both Fuchs MSA British Historic and Pirelli Welsh series and Rogers took on co-driver duties for Barrett during a terrific drive.

The event has been based in Llandovery for the past 20 years, but this year the rally was moved to its new base in Resolven and used the superb forests of Rheola Margam and Resolven for the first time.

For Barrett and Rogers, the first time pairing were embroiled in a four-way ding-dong battle for second place from the off.

But they held on by just nine seconds after 45 miles in dry dusty conditions.

It was Ross garage owner Steve Bennett who, with regular co-driver Osian Owen in the Bennett Tyres Escort RS1800, emerged with third place on the final stage.

They pinched third place by one second and in fact just 11 seconds covered second to fifth.

The regular pairing of Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons in the Allglass Escort RS came seventh as they yet again thrilled the spectators with yet another class battle with Stuart Egglestone in his Escort RS.

But it was Penrith driver who took the class win by just seven seconds.

Jason Gardner and Graham Cox in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS were after Welsh Historic series points and they took 24th overall and seventh in class.

They also earned maximum Welsh historic points in the class although were somewhat fortunate to finish having broken a tooth on the crown wheel and had to be very careful on the final nine-mile test.

In the National B event, it was the pairing of John Collins/John Smart who were in honours with 13th overall and first in class in the Opel Manta 2 litre.

Charles Hopkinson and Gavin Haycock finished 19th and third in class in the Dave Jenkins Motorsport-run Escort RS.

Bob Morgan and Adrian Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda were using the event to test suspension and anti roll bar settings.

They caught a car on the opening test but were still sixth fastest and then sadly the turbo blew on stage two and retirement.

The overall winners of the historic event were Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss in the G&M Pryce-backed Escort RS1800.