by Geoff Mayes
Matt Edwards and experienced co-driver John Roberts put in a flawless and mature performance on the Ludlow based Woodpecker Stages Rally to keep alive their BTRDA Production class Championship hopes, despite a day-long tussle amidst stiff competition.
Edwards managed a string of top ten stage times in a Geoff Jones Motorsport-run and Kumho Tyres shod Subaru Impreza despite no opportunity to test ahead of the event.
Running on a fraction of the budget of his nearest rivals, Edwards only secured the necessary funds to contest the rally in the week prior to the event and whilst the predicament necessitated a restless night in a tent, the 2007 class B8 champion was on the pace from the word go.
Proving that the lack of testing was no major hindrance Edwards returned to first service with a string of top five class stage times proving a testament to the youngsters natural ability to quickly adapt to the different machine, especially on this rally where local knowledge always plays a significant part of the proceedings.
Lying tenth overall at first service, all was required was a routine maintenance check and a new pair of Kumho tyres on the Geoff Jones N11 car in preparation for the rapid tests in the Radnor forest complex;
“All has gone well according to plan this morning, as my unfamiliarity with the car hasn't slowed us down at all like i thought it might do,” Edwards said. “With all the hard work that's gone into getting here the priority is to enjoy it, and judging by the pace this morning its going to be a huge battle all day, which is pretty much what we expected. Nevertheless its a great feeling to be up at the sharp end competing with and sometimes beating the top boys in WRC's on the stages, so it makes it all well worthwhile!”
![Matt Edwards [Pic credit: JMS Photography]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/486894.jpg)
