SPENCER Sport emerged with flying colours from toughest challenge of the year in the Nicky Grist Stages - round five of the MSA British Rally Championship.

Tom Cave and co-driver James Morgan scored their second second-place finish of the season in as many events. Having led the mixed-surface rally from the start, their eventual result sees them move up to second in the championship standings.

Team-mates Jamie Jukes (Llandysul) and David Williams in the Mitsubishi Mirage also scored additional championship points in their bid for the National Rally Cup. After a frustrating first day, their second went much better and a fourth in class was just reward for their virtuous efforts.

Taking place on and around the Epynt military ranges, the Nicky Grist Stages is the Llandysul-based team’s most local British Championship round. But its geography didn’t make it any less of a challenge.

And for a weekend in the calendar that should represent the height of the British summer, persistent rain was not what many had expected for the first loop of four stages on Saturday morning. But that didn’t stop Cave and Morgan from confirming their intentions right from the start, when they set the fastest time on the first stage.

They held the lead until the third, when they were passed by championship leaders and fellow Welshmen Elfyn Evans and Craig Parry.

Cave and Morgan continued at similar pace during the afternoon, consolidating their second place and ending the day 48 seconds behind the leaders and 52 seconds ahead of their closest rivals, Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan.

Following overnight suspension and tyre changes, Tom and James stamped their authority on the runners-up spot.

However, after an incident involving another car - fortunately with no serious injuries to the crew - and with the consequent delay, the organisers decided to cancel the final three stages.

Unfortunately for Jukes and Williams, their rally was somewhat different to that of their team-mates. What appeared to be an innocuous spin on the first stage saw the Mitsubishi put a wheel off the road and come to rest on its floor guards.

With no spectators or marshals to assist, the car was beached where it had stopped and although making various attempts to get going again.

Overcoming a few issues in the wet conditions on Sunday, Jukes and Williams were pleased to end the Super Rally fourth in the National Rally Cup and score more points. Their counterparts, Swedish crew Robert Blomberg and Lars Andersson in the second of the Mitsubishi Mirages, recorded their second National Rally Cup victory in as many events, proving that the R5 specification Mirage is a front-running car in the category.

“Our 100% finishing record is in no small part down to the reliability of the car that once again, ran faultlessly throughout this event and for that, I have to congratulate the Spencer Sport team for all they do to make this happen," said Cave.

The next event in the MSA British Rally Championship calendar is the Ulster Rally on August 19-20.