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PWRC: Wilks takes home win - and more |
Mitsubishi's Guy Wilks came through to secure the FIA Production Car World Championship win on the Wales Rally GB, the eighth and final round in the series.
Wilks took the PWRC lead on the second loop on day 1 and while he came under threat from his team-mate, Gwyndaf Evans, who closed to within 3.2 seconds after SS6, the Englishman managed to pull away a bit on Saturday, finishing the morning loop 7.6 seconds ahead.
Evans was then sidelined by gearbox problems in SS10 and that put Wilks in a commanding position, more than a minute up on his closest challenger.
In the end the Englishman came out top by 34.2 seconds and he had more than one reason to celebrate, as he was also competing for points in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship and took a straight pair of wins in the BRC category to ensure he took the British title.
“British Rally champion – sounds good to me! On that last stage we just had to concentrate 100 per cent and get on with it,” said Wilks. “It's great, awesome – I'm over the moon! The team has done a great job – two BRC wins and a PWRC win and all in one weekend - brilliant!”
Juho Hanninen meanwhile took the runners-up spot, overhauling Mark Higgins on the final day, when the Brit was slowed by gearbox problems.
Despite gaining a place on the final day though, the Finn wasn't that pleased: “Second place wasn't really what I came for. This morning we were third and I gained one more position which is good, but I wanted a win here,” he stated. “Next year I hope we can stay in WRC, although I don't know in which car.”
Mark, who eventually finished more than a minute adrift of Hanninen, was philosophical about missing out on the BRC crown.
“To be honest I'm just lucky to be here at the finish,” he noted. “We had quite a few problems through the weekend and it's not really what we were planning to do here. But after all the problems I just wanted to finish as we drove the motorway road section to the finish stuck in third gear.
“It was a pity coming to this rally with only one championship possible and we've left without it! But it's been a fantastic season and fair play to Guy as he drove a great rally.”
