A wicked three-way battle went down in the dry and dusty forests of North Wales last weekend, and guess who came out on top? That’s right, David Crossen took the crown in round three of the British Historic Rally Championship. The Plains Rally was the stage for an epic showdown between Crossen/Ben Teggart, David Henderson/Chris Lees, and Dan Mennell/John Roberts, all vying for victory in their Ford Escort Mk2s. The dust was flying, the engines roaring, and the competition was fierce as they tackled the dustiest stages seen in years on the Bala-based event.
Despite a quick spin on the Dyfnant stage, Crossen managed to clinch the win by a mere five seconds, leaving Henderson in second place just three seconds ahead of Mennell. The three drivers were neck and neck throughout the rally, with only a single second separating them in the final stage, a 5.6-mile charge through the hills of Aberhirnant. With George Lepley’s Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and Seb Perez’s Porsche 911 out of the running due to mechanical issues, the stage was set for the three Escorts to battle it out across seven special stages.
Mennell, who powered through despite wrist pain from a steering wheel mishap, found relief with a bag of frozen peas bought at a village shop between stages. Talk about making do with what you’ve got! Meanwhile, Henderson, with limited prior experience in the area, put on a stellar performance alongside his co-driver Chris Lees. As for Crossen, he proved once again that he’s a force to be reckoned with, securing his second BHRC win in a row and solidifying his position as a serious contender for the championship title. The drivers may have been covered in dust, but their spirits were certainly high as they reflected on the day’s events.
In the end, Adam Milner and Roy Jarvis overcame adversity to win Category 2 in their 1600cc Escort Mk1, while Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins took home the win in Category 4 with their Galant. Milner and Jordan now lead the overall BHRC points as the competition gears up for the Argyll Rally on June 20-21, where the action will shift to asphalt terrain. The British Historic Rally Championship is heating up, and it’s anyone’s game as the drivers prepare to tackle the next challenge on the road to victory.
