By Anwen Francis

The 2014 rally season finished on a high for local rally driver Meirion Evans when he returned triumphant from the International Manx Rally at the Isle of Man. With Iwan Jones in the navigator’s seat, Meirion won the British Historic class as well as being awarded the British Historic Competitor Award to win the highest placed overall driver finishing third overall in the British Championship.

‘ It was a new challenge as this was the first time for me to compete at the event. I went over there to compete as it is part of the 2015 British Historic Championship and I’m taking part in that next year, so it was more for experience than anything else and winning was an extra bonus,’ said Meirion who will have current British Historic Champion navigator, Steffan Evans of Llandysul in the navigator’s seat next year.

‘ It was good satisfaction to win the rally as second to me was David Stokes, three times British Historic Champion who has been competing in the Isle of Man since 1969, ten years before I was born, and is very experienced on the Island,’ added Meirion who was leading the three day, two night rally all the way.

One of Meirion’s clients, the crew of Ian Jones and Iestyn Williams of North Wales finished third overall.

Meirion and Steffan are both looking forward to the Red Kite Rally the 1st round of the BHRC series held in Llandovery in February, when they will make their debut performance as a crew in a new Mk2 Escort, built by Meirion himself.