The up and coming M.E.Rallysport team travelled to South Wales last Weekend to contest the frst round of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane 1400 Championship, one of the UK’s premier rally series. 22 year old Matthew Edwards, and Andrew Murphy would be competing in their self prepared Vauxhall Astra once again.

With foul weather conditions on a 6 1/2 adventure just to get there a sure sign of things to come, the crew began with a short blast round the Chepstow Racecourse, settiling in nicely and getting a feel for the tricky conditions.

(Image Courtesy of www.90right.com)

The stages ‘proper’ started up the Wye Valley in the famous Forest of Dean, and were to present a whole new challenge for the young crew. In places, 4-6 inches of snow could be found on the stages, and despite being seeded down the order the entheusiastic duo were to be found runing in the worst of the conditons, amoungst the top 10 cars to tackle the treturous tracks.

Nevertheless, coping admirably with their first taste of driving on snow, a composed Edwards was intent on getting round without drama. Stage by stage, more experienced rivals would succome to the slippery stages and fall out of contention, leaving the Welsman a creditable 5th in the 1400 order, but more importantly 2nd of the Silverstone contenders, and leader of the B8 class in the championship. The crew also lead the U25 category, and the MSA English Championship that they are also contesting in 2007

(Image Courtesy of www.90right.com)

“The event today has been the stiffest test we’ve encountered yet. Its been a battle just to keep the car on the road today, as even on the straights you could easily find yourself ploughing the untouched snow at the sides of the road and getting stuck. Im so glad to get to the finish, and having had no serious setbacks, we’v achieved a good start to the year”, said Edwards at the finish.

The crew were to leave Chepstow in a more somber mood however, as news filtered through of the tragic accident that had occured on stage 3 of the event. The thoughts of the whole team are with the family and friends of those involved.

The M.E.Rallysport team now head to Cockermouth in Cumbria for the Malcolm Wilson Rally on 3rd March

Updated Championship tables and information can be found at http://www.BTRDArally.com/news.asp?id=250