Apart from setting two fastest times on the first two stages, reigning Pirelli British Rally Champion Jonny Milner, driving his familiar Team Dynamics Toyota Corolla WRC, was content to let the two combative Finnish drivers Tapio Laukkanen and Jari-Matti Latvala battle it out for the lead.
The waiting game paid off, and although Milner didn't win his home event, he took second place at the finish and – most importantly – the 2003 Pirelli British Rally Championship title.
No-one else can now overtake his points total, although there is still one round - the Tempest South of England Rally on October 26 - to go.
Three other champions have also been confirmed. Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke, protégé of Colin McRae’s S-Mac management team, drove his Team Palmer Opel Corsa to another brilliant Super 1600 win, thereby assuring himself of both the S16 and the Junior titles.
Shelley Taunt, who retired from the event when a wheel (unfortunately her own) overtook her Nissan Micra on stage 8, took both the Ladies’ Cup and the 1400 category and the PBRC’s Norwegian stalwart, Marcus Foss (Nissan Almera), can now claim the Formula 2000 title after a neck and neck battle with close rival Steve Loveridge (MG ZR) ended with the latters unfortunate retirement.
At Sunday’s 1.30pm Malton finish, the top 10 were: Laukkenen, Milner, Latvala, Irish veteran Austin McHale, local Yorkshire driver Steve Petch, ex-Scottish champion Barry Johnson, Chris Mellors (making a welcome return to British rallying in his Ford Escort WRC), Meeke, new arrival and exciting talent from Finland Aki Teiskonen, and Production cup winner Neil Buckley.
![Trackrod rally winners, Tapio Laukkanen and Ilka Riipinen [Subaru Impreza]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/66356.jpg )
