Jon Ingram and Ian Allsop put their names in to the Forest of Dean Motor Club record books when they won The Get Connected Wydean Forest Rally in a Ford Focus RS by three seconds from Steve Perez and Neil Dashfield, in a Ford Focus WRC.

Third were Brian Bell with Raglan co-driver Paul Spooner in another Ford Focus WRC, while fourth were last year's winners, Dorian Rees and Paul Willetts, in a Skoda Octavia WRC.

Some 180 cars started the rally, with a total of 47 cars retiring. On a bright, dry morning, Andy Burton and Shelley Rogerson retired the Peugot Cosworth on stage 2 with transmission problems, so unless you were at Chepstow Race-course for stage one you never got to see the super car. Rees and Willetts had very little time in the Skoda before the event and a big spin on stage two effectively put them out of the running for overall honours.

Event sponsor Get Connected managing director Damian Cole and Den Golding finished 12 overall and 11th in class in a Hyundai Accent WRC. Next high-profile retirement was Coleford's Nik Elsmore and Nigel Gardner in a Mitsubishi Lancer, with a snapped main shaft on junction six of stage two. Nik had been fourth fastest on stage 1.

A large number of local crews contested the event with varying results. With not enough space to list them in full here, you can see them on: http://www.btrdarally.com/results/2006_1/1/index.asp

The Get Connected! Wyedean Forest Rally was also a qualifying round of both the MSA English and Welsh Rally Champion-ships and, following the opening encounter, the leaders are Roger Chilman/ Andrew Sankey (sixth at Wyedean, in a Lancer) and Rees/Willetts respectively.

Action for rally fans next weekend is at the Sweet Lamb complex, near Llangurig. Starting at 10am next Saturday, Telford Auto Club promote The Winter Stages Rally, a round of The Millers Oils Welsh Asso-ciation Clubmans Champion-ship.

Spectators are welcome, with top entries including Marcus Dodd (Hyundai Accent), Stuart Jones (Mitsubishi Lance)r, Nick Kenny (Subaru Impreza), Owain Beman (Mitsubishi Lancer) and Mad Mick Jones (Ford Escort Mk2). Get Connected Wyedean result:

1.Jon Ingram/ Ian Allsop, Ford Focus RS 0:44;57

2.Steve Perez/ Neil Dashfield Ford Focus WRC 0:45;00

3.Brian Bell/ Paul Spooner Ford Focus WRC 0:46;15

4.Dorian Rees/ Paul Willetts, Skoda Octavia WRC 0:46;42