Leominster's Theo Bengry came with an ace of winning the annual rally sprint through Haye Park near Ludlow on Sunday January 20th.

Back after a two and a half year break Bengry won the trophy for fastest time on any of the competitive runs in the Mitsubishi Evo 5 belonging to John Perrott and was only beaten overall by one and a half seconds by the 2007 winner Peter Elkins from near Bristol.

"I wanted to try the car out to see if I was too rusty. I found everything OK and if a surclip had not caused a bit of sideways motoring I might have pipped Peter" said Bengry who confirmed he would be using on the Wyedean Rally next month.

Forty crews tackled the G3RS Haye Park Gravel Rally Sprint which attracted one or two 'older' drivers getting rid of the seasonal lethargic. James Wozencroft did a stint of 'rides' for the public in a Subaru Impeza and would have been fifth overall on time.