King of Epynt Challenge 2022 supported by Promotive Engineering Group
Round 3 – Mewla Rally
For a record seventh time, Damian Cole has won the King of Epynt Challenge. After three rounds on the challenging military roads on the Epynt Ranges, Cole has taken maximum points on each of the events to take a resounding series win.
At the Mewla Rally, Cole was on the pace all day, and a puncture on the eighth of ten special stages prevented him challenging Jason Pritchard for the outright win, eventually finishing just four seconds behind in second place.
Partnering Cole was his 18-year-old daughter, Charly, who in her first year of rallying has quickly adapted to the art of using pace notes and achieved some exceptional results, taking an outright win on the second round of the Series, The Dixies Challenge Rally.
Just 11 seconds behind the Coles at the finish were Wayne and Gwynfor Jones, the pair having to be content with third place after losing time with gearbox issue on their Darrian T90 GTR, having led the event outright early on.
Partnered by Paul Spooner for the first time, Mike Williams had a good run, finishing 14th overall and second in class in his MG ZR, moving him up to fifth in the Challenge points. Just three places behind were the next Challenge contenders, Andrew Turner/Richard Winstanley who finished third in class in the process in his Ford Escort.
Despite his Vauxhall Nova overheating due to head gasket issues, William Mains was the fifth contender to finish, and as a result takes the runner up spot in the Challenge, which is no mean feat in a 1400cc engine car.
With the vastly experienced Ryland James in the co-driver’s seat of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, Phil Evans had a good run to finish next contender, whilst the crew of Eurwyn Davies/Gareth Davies were first of the 1600cc contenders’ home in his Darrian T90.
Brake issues due to boiling brake fluid forced the retirement of the Ford Escort Mk 2 of Terry Brown/Angharad Williams, whilst Jim Boxall/Teresa Butler in a Peugeot 205 Gti and Lee Turvey/Phil Jones in a Vauxhall Corsa both retired with engine problems.
Former Welsh Tarmacadam Champions, Bob Fowden and Richard Merriman both failed to make the finish of the event, with Fowden’s Subaru succumbing to transmission problems, whilst Merriman retired his class leading Darrian T90 with clutch issues.