Talbot Sunbeam crew Richard Perry and Clive Townend have been confirmed as winners of the special award for the best non-Escort crew in category 3 of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

Category 3, for cars from 1975 to 1981, is dominated by Ford Escort Mk2s, so to recognise and encourage crews in other cars, the HRCR Best Non-Escort Award is presented to the highest scoring crew in anything other than an Escort.

Perry, from Market Drayton in Shropshire, ran his Talbot under the name of 'Team Shoestring' and sealed the award with a strong finish on the final round, the Trackrod Historic Cup on 6 October.

"We've been flat out a lot of the time," said Perry at the end of the high-speed Yorkshire event.

That result took them just four points clear of the Vauxhall Chevette of Roger Kilty/Lynette Banks, while third among the non-Escort pack was the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus of Adrian and Daniel Seabridge.