Gower Takes Second In 2006 Astra Stages
Monday, April 3rd, 2006Richard Gower put in one of his strongest performances claiming second overall in his SGP Motorsports Hyundai Accent WRC car.
Finishing two minutes behind race winner Andy Burton, it was one his strongest performances to date, setting him up nicely for the 3rd round of the MSA International on the Isle Of Man in May.
Meanwhile, Herefordshire’s Andy Burton only just made it in time to contest the Denbighshire Astra Stages National Rally. Together with Colwyn Bay’s John Roberts, the Peugeot-Cosworth crew mastered the North Wales forests for the second time in three years - and co-driver Roberts celebrated a consecutive hat-trick of wins on the popular Llangollen based event.
Burton held off the challenge from multiple National Rally Champion Graham Middleton in his Matador Tyres backed Hyundai Accent World Rally Car. The Llandrindod Wells driver lead the event early on. Graham was seemingly heading for maximum points in the new British Rally Championship ‘Rallymasters’ category until the Accent WRC’s gearbox cried enough on the final stage of the rally, forcing him and co-driver Paul Morris into a rare retirement.
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