Champion Milner Fights Back to Win in Wales

18 May 2004

After second round battles in Wales, the Championship Table features a mix of experience and new blood.
 
The International Rally of Wales saw seasonally unusual weather – and some unusual performances too - as it gave teams and drivers the opportunity to prove their worth in the second round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship.
 
"The fantastic weather gave drivers a completely different problem to the usual challenges they face on this event. The stages were in excellent condition and with just one of them being used twice, it was a real hit with the drivers." confirmed Mark Taylor, Championship Manager.  "Dust was the main cause of mishaps – rather than rain, mist, fog and mud.  The drivers acted with true professionalism accepting that apart from the first car on the road, it was the same for everyone. Again here in Wales we saw another round of enormously close competitive driving in all of the categories, adding to the huge excitement in this year’s Championship."
 
Competitors in the International Rally of Wales, the second round of the British Rally Championship, tackled 102 stage miles over two days and of the 59 starters, just 37 crews reached the finish.
 
Jonny Milner took and kept the lead on first stage of the second day, when early leader David Higgins lost time with a puncture.  Austin MacHale.took second on his first outing in Wales and in his new Focus using it for the first time on gravel, demoting the unfortunate Higgins to third position, with Ducati motorbike boss Paul Bird coming home fourth.  Matthew Wilson, the youngest driver on the rally at just 17 years old took maximum points for the British Teams Championship in his category by finishing an impressive fifth overall and Steve Perez ended the rally sixth.
 
The Championship Table therefore sees Higgins holding on the lead established on the first round, but just 3 points separates him and Paul Bird with Steve Perez on 29 points and Matthew Wilson on 28 points putting on the pressure.  Jonny Milner currently has 20 points – put him well and truly back in the fight.
 
Ulsterman Kris Meeke dominated the Super 1600 class, but as Meeke is not registered for the British Rally Championship 1600 series, Dealer Team Suzuki driver, Guy Wilks took maximum points.  Dorian Rees (Llanybydder) won the Production Cup class and took the series lead in the Production Championship after early leader Sebastian Ling (Llandysul) crashed out on stage five of eight.  His fellow Promax team mate, Robert Swann scored maximum Teams points.
 
"The Rally of Wales has come along way in a year and the organisers should be commended for their hard work and determination to succeed in ensuring the event returned to the Championship. All of the crews and teams that I spoke to over the course of the weekend were full of compliments for the rally and the condition of the stages. Dolgellau made everyone feel very welcome and the size of the crowds at both the start and finish was phenomenal. There was a fantastic atmosphere around the place and it was great for the Kwik-Fit Pirelli BRC to be back in Wales."

See 2004 series calendar for British Rally Championship

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