Former BTRDA 1400 champions Darren Pinchen together with Karen Jenkins took a comfortable 53 second victory in the Morris Lubricants 1400 category recently. In the Gotherington Cross garage, Gibsons backed Proton Satria finished 19th overall and took maximum championship points. The REIS BTRDA and Morris Lubricants 1400 series, travelled south for round three the Betta Somerset Stages. The Minehead-based event had undergone a series of changes, due to circumstances beyond the organisers control, but they still offered 12 tests making up 44 competitive miles for the 125 crews. A host of local crews had made the journey South and for Pinchen and Jenkins it was a fairly trouble free day,the opening two stages up the famous tarmac of the Porlock toll road, saw the duo take the lead that was never really challenged during the day,they held a lead of 26 seconds at the halfway service, despite a puncture and an overshoot, and the afternoon loop saw them increase their winning advantage to 53 seconds at the end. But it was the historic spec Escort RS1800 of Matt Edwards and Ross Motor Club vice chairman Will Rogers alongside that took top local honours taking 15th overall 2nd in class in the Swift Leisure/ Holton Homes backed car,but they endured a day of two halves. The morning loop of six tests saw clutch problems which nearly saw the crew go OTL. This was found to be just an errant jubilee clip, with this fixed they set three fastest 2wd times out of the six afternoon stages but couldn't catch the similar car of Matthew Robinson/ Sam Collis, but the duo were well pleased with the result given, it was Edwards first rally since November last year. Hot on their heels were Bob Morgan and Adie Williams in the immaculate Winner Garage Skoda Fabia S2000 Evo finished 17th overall and 3rd in class after a trouble free day and more valuable mileage in the new car, although they admit to struggling on the tarmac of Porlock. Ross duo Dan Gray and Matt Rogers in the I M Gray Plumbing Heating backed 1400 Peugeot 106 had a mixed day, trying a new combination for the first time. The new combination bounced back from their roll on the recent Malcolm Wilson rally, to set consistent times on the opening loop, to lie 2nd 1400 to Pinchen at lunch. The afternoon saw them continue to take the fight to Pinchen, still holding 2nd 1400, but on the final stage the duo dropped a minute on what Dan describes as: "A huge moment" and plummeted down the leaderboard to finish 31st overall and 5th 1400. Scott Partridge/ Keegan Rees finished 35th overall 7th in Group N in the ex Alistair McRae Impreza. Steve Jenkins/ Mark Vaughan had a good day in the DJ Vaughan Citroen Saxo finishing 65th overall and 3rd in class 1400 C Just a few seconds behind were Dave Edwards and Ade McNally in there, Mintex backed Escort RS2000 taking 66th and 5th historic home. But for Dan Evans and Tom Marrott in the KGD Industrial Services/ Ian Evans Motorsport 1400 Nova,they didn't start well, on the second run of Porlock catching a slower car, although they were challenging for a top three 1400 after stage five, only to roll out of the rally on the next stage, after being caught out on a grassy piece of road,although the crew were unhurt the roll caused a lot of damage to the car and possibly brought the season to an end for the talented Hereford youngster. Tony Williams/ Karen Phelps retired there Escort RS on stage five. The event was won by Steve Perez and his veteran co-driver Paul Spooner in the VK Ford Focus WRC on a tie break from a similar car of Steve Petch and Ian Windress, with Perez taking victory on being quickest of the two on the first test,with Dave Weston with Kirsty Riddick on the notes taking the final podium place in their Subaru Impreza WRC. Of the 125 starters, 88 made it back to the finish of the event