ROUND seven of the BTRDA rally series took Slimbridge rally ace Dan Moss and co-driver Sam Allen to Ludlow for the Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally last weekend.

The event is organised by the Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club and is always popular with competitors.

A bumper entry list of 160 competitors saw Moss and Allen seeded 28th for the start of the rally, a seeding reflecting their strong finishes this season.

With service based at Ludlow racecourse, the crews took on stages in the Welsh Marches area early morning before a trip into Wales for the well-known Radnor stage.

The cars then returned for a short service halt prior to the final loop of stages in the Marches.

With heavy rain forecast for the afternoon, Moss opted to use a harder compound tyre in the morning. However by the second stage of the morning, the heavens had opened and they were already struggling for grip.

Regardless, quick times were posted in the opening two stages with a time of 10:03mins for the longer High Vinnalls stage.

It was in stage two the car developed an issue causing the passenger side brakes to stick.

The MacWhirter team managed to sort the issue with a rear brake calliper and it was off to Radnor.

A good time of 11:37mins was posted, putting more time between the local crew and the rival crew of Utting and Stokoe.

With surface water hanging around in the stages, Moss and Allen opted to play it safe and not take any risks.

Stage five was a short two-mile blast through Hazel Coppice before the final stage of the day saw them take on a very wet Haye Park.

Recording a time of 10:09mins, it was good enough to secure 21st position with an overall time of 43:55mins.

The duo also brought the Mitsubishi car home in fifth place in NR4 class.