DRIVER Nathan Crewe sealed second in class after the final round of the Silkolene 1400 Rally Championship.

But his MGZR 1400 navigator Mark Ammonds had even more reason to celebrate, winning the Under 25s co-driver series and finishing third overall.

Crewe, of Stoke Heath, took on the Cambrian Rally, mainly staged on gravel, which provided a fantastic end to a torrid season of difficulties.

The duo eventually battled through heavy fog and returned to Llandudno with a third place in class and 21st position overall.

The first tarmac stage was around the Great Orme, a toll road that follows the sea wall and is infamous for creating drama.

Safely through, the team pushed on in to the forests of North Wales but, having changed to a different type of tyre, struggled to stop the car on the rain-soaked, slippery stages.

To rectify the problem, the Cottrill Transport-prepared car left the service halt at Ruthin with a different cut in the tread, allowing the tyre to bite down in to the gravel more.

With a renewed confidence in the MGZR, Crewe and Ammonds began setting top-20 stage times with a much improved pace, beating more powerful machinery.

Crewe said: "We have been competing using a relatively standard 1400 K-Series engine, so it really proves how strong the Powertrain Ltd product is when we can set top-18 stage times against Subaru, Mitsubishis and Cosworths."

A heart-stopping moment occurred on one of the afternoon stages when the crew clipped a large rock positioned by spectators on the line of a fast right-hander over a crest.

Despite severely buckling the wheel, the tyre remained inflated as the crew got to the end of the stage.

Crewe and Ammonds are looking forward to challenging for the Silkolene 1400 Championship overall title next year.

The team and vehicle are supported by Martin Healer Development Surveys and International Radiators Ltd.