Shelly finishes rally season in style with another class win (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Shelly finishes rally season in style with another class win

BRITISH Ladies' Rally Champion Shelly Taunt once again took a class win and was first overall lady in the final round of the British Rally Championship.

The South of England Tempest Rally, which attracted some top drivers from around the world, was won by Finland's 18-year-old Jari-Latvala, tipped to be world rally champion in the next four years.

Shelly, from Highworth, and co-driver Bob Stokoe started the event cautiously as overnight rain caused stages to be extremely slippery. Taunt was nervous early on as her 1275cc Nissan Micra struggled for grip.

Taunt did not want to make any mistakes as it was the last round of the championship and they desperately wanted to get to the finish and celebrate what has been a fantastic year for not only Shelly, but also for the sponsors and most of all her hard working service crew.

The Silverstone Rally School, Guest and Fiore Bricklayers, Creative Block Paving, Advanced Sign Factory, Rapid Hire, Silkolene and Mintex Brakes supported crew gradually started to gain confidence as the stages dried out in the afternoon.

Much of the event took place on difficult MOD terrrain used mainly by tanks and Land Rovers.

Nonetheless, the pair had finished 30th overall to take maximum points in the Nations Cup for England, but were pipped to the post by Ireland in the overall standings.

Taunt, who is already making plans for next season, said: "We have had a fantastic year and everything has gone to plan; we have worked hard and it has paid off."

Shelly, who will be running a Group N Suburu Imprezza, is hoping to get as much practice as possible as the change of car will certainly be an eye opener.