Paul Butler, co-driven by Kevin Watkins, took top local honours at Down Ampney on Saturday with a fine eighth overall third in class in the Flipstick Subaru Impreza.

Sixty-five crews lined up for EMCOS Red Dragon Stages, offering 10 special stages totalling 50 miles at the old airfield.

For Butler and Watkins it was their first ever visit to the venue and they got off to a reasonable start, despite a few overshoots and spins, they clipped a bale on stage four to lie 15th overall.

As the duo got used to the layout of the land, Butler started to push hard and by stage seven, were up to eighth overall.

But that nearly all came to an abrupt end on the next test when they missed their braking point and hit a big straw bale head-on causing major front end damage.

Stages nine and 10 were taken steadily and they were both pleased and relieved to finish.

"Good day, first time we've ever been here, had a big off on stage eight, but thanks to our service crew Jason Morgan and Ross Leach for getting us back out, after repairing the damage," said Watkins.

Nigel Jenkins and Karen Watts took 13th overall, second in class in the 16v Nova.

18-year-old Jack Walby, who is usually found in the co-drivers seat of Nigel Jenkins' Nova on BTRDA events, made his driving debut with dad Martyn as co-driver in the Calico Interiors Peugeot 106.

A slipping clutch on stage one was soon rectified and Jack was getting quicker with every stage, even catching and passing a car on one stage.

A high speed off into a huge pile of sand caused no damage, but sadly a badly knocking engine on the penultimate test brought retirement.

"Jack did very well and learned an awful lot today, it was a shame we had to retire," said Martyn.

Jason Worgan and Mark Wheeler in the Samurai Signs Impreza had another day to forget with a catalogue of problems and eventually brought their retirement on stage eight.

Will Rogers teamed up with BRC front runner James Grint in his Citroen DS3 to run as course opening car.

Grint was using the event as a test for this weekend's Jim Clark International, despite a few overshoots and spins, they were setting consistent top-five times.

Pictured are Jack and Martyn Walby, courtesy of EDP Photo.