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'Get-Connected' Neath Valley Stages- Post event Press Release.

Posted on Monday, 13 August 2007 04:04PM by

The first ever Neath Valley Stages took place this weekend and it was sensational. Glorious weather, enthusiastic spectators, dedicated officials and spectacular competitors were some of the factors that made this event such great a success.

Competitors with a wide range of experience, ability and machinery faced 34 challenging stage miles including three trips around the infamous Walters Arena spectator stage which is used annually by the WRC, Wales Rally GB.

They avoided the dust due to a well received increase in the gap between the cars which gave the dust time to settle allowing the competitors better vision.

The overall event was won by Michael O'Brien and Paul Spooner in a Ford Focus WRC after Andy Burton was forced to retire his Peugeot Cosworth after just one stage due to engine problems and event leader Steve Simpson retired during SS6. Second place went to John Lloyd and Pauline Gullick in their
Ford Focus WRC and third went to the event sponsor Damian Cole (of the 'Get-Connected' mobile phone supplier) and his navigator Karen Watts in
their Hyundai Accent WRC.

Congratulations are also in order for Mark Solloway and Dean Gwyllim (a first time navigator) who won the Historic class taking home the Delwyn Lloyd Price Memorial Trophy. Second and third places in the Historic class went to Jonathan Brace and Simon Tysoe.

The Neath Valley Stages 2007 showed how much spirit, sportsmanship and camaraderie there is in the British rallying community. Competitors expressed their satisfaction for an event that "truly considered the exact needs and wants of competitors" and emphasised their desire to return and be a part of the Neath Valley Stages 2008.

The Three Counties Car Club would like to thank everyone involved in this event for their help, without them it couldn't have taken place.