Will Rogers, co-driving for Matt Edwards, took top local honours on last weekend's SJR Plains National Rally with a fine fifth overall, second in class in the Swift Leisure, RP Joinery-backed Lancer Evo 9.

The Welshpool-based event, the latest round of both the REIS/ Get Connected.com BTRDA and Pirelli Welsh Championships, offered the 135 assembled crews 45 miles in the classic Welsh forests of Dyfi and Hafren.

For Edwards and Rogers (pictured) it was somewhat of an eventful day. Just two miles into Stage 1 the engine started to overheat so they had to turn the anti-lag system off.

They had to continuously fill up the radiator on the road sections between stages, hoping that the head gasket wouldn't blow, so were pleased to see the finish and another good haul of championship points.

Hot on their tails were Rob Smith and Ross Weir in the Weir Laundry Equipment Subaru Impreza, hoping to build on their Somerset stages results. These two had an enjoyable trouble free run to ninth overall, second in class.

"Had an excellent day, the car ran faultlessly and the stages were a lot drier than we expected," said Ross.

Jason Morgan had Adie Williams on the notes in his Winner Garage Lancer Evo 6, fresh from an excellent second overall on the recent Swansea Bay rally, his debut in the new car.

But Jason had to endure a stomach bug all day, so wasn't fully committed although he was lying 30th at service.

A puncture on the next test cost them well over a minute, dropping them down to finish 45th overall, sixth in class.

"Not the best day at the office, I felt so rough, but first event with anti lag switched on, the puncture knocked us back but its all good seat time," said Morgan.

Colin Webb with Matt Rogers alongside in the Forest of Dean Tyres BMW 325 had an excellent day, finishing 47th, sixth in class despite damaging the exhaust, taking maximum Welsh championship points.

"I started to get my old confidence back today, the 'beemer' is a bit big to push hard through the tight twisty stuff so in both the Dyfi stages we lose out to the more nimble Escorts, but we're starting to get there now," said Colin.

Tony Williams and Karen Phelps took 51st, sixth in class in the Pinto-engined Escort RS.

Shawn Baldwin had Jack Walby alongside him for the first time in the Autofix of Coleford Escort RS.

They had an indifferent start on the first two stages with a couple of half spins and had a near miss having hit some standing water on the opening stage.

But things improved as the rally wore on finishing 77th, 12th in class.

"The first two stages didn't flow too well, but Shawn got his head down and drove well this afternoon. I enjoyed the event, great stages," said Jack.

Bart Lang and Simon Cox finished 99th/ fifth in class in their one litre Nissan Micra.

The event was won by the Ford Focus WRC of Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton from Wyedean victors Conor McCloskey and Francis Regan in a Subaru S9 WRC.