Two members of the Potters Bar based Green Belt Motor Club Richard Warne, and his co-driver Chris Deal, won their class on a recent special stages rally.

The Twyford Wood Stages Rally was based at a disused World War II airfield near Grantham and consisted of eight timed-to-the-second speed tests totalling 65 miles of very rough and wet concrete tracks.

These special stages were so taxing that 11 of the 37 starters did not make it to the finish.

However, the Ford Escort RS 2000 was untroubled by the undulating tracks and after two stages, the dup sat second in their class and seventh overall.

They suffered a minor setback on stage five when they caught up with a slower car and the difficulty in passing on the narrow tracks cost them 17 seconds.

New tyres were fitted for the sixth stage but they had all but worn out by the end of the eighth and final run, which resulted in a spin that sent the Escort into the undergrowth.

Warne managed to drive out with only a 12 second loss.

It helped them to first in their class and a very creditable sixth overall.

For more information about the Green Belt Motor Club, go to www.gbmc.org.uk