The sun shone on the Betta Somerset Stages Rally based in Minehead on Saturday 24th April when the JLT Ford Focus WRC's finished a creditable 6th and 8th overall.

Andrew Barnes co-driven by Guy Simmons started the event at a good pace which was to continue throughout the day and were in fifth place until a broken flyby wire caused them to lose 20% throttle power when they had to run in manual mode dropping them to sixth place. "Today has been hot and dusty but good fun. The tarmac section using Porlock Toll Road has reminded me of how much I enjoy tarmac rallying", said Andrew whilst Guy was full of praise of his drivers commitment to the stages "It has been a really good event and well organised by the Minehead and Burnham on Sea Motor Clubs. Andrew drove well and the day has been really enjoyable I just wish there had been another run up the Porlock Toll Road".

Team-mates John Lloyd and Adrian Cavenagh enjoyed the very dusty and rough stages, once again trading stages times with team-mate Andrew . Both crews were recording fourth fastest stage times and Lloyd finished in eighth place after losing one place on the final stage by 3 seconds. Luck was on their side as when they left the final time control they lost all fuel pressure.

Andrew Barnes and John Lloyd are now in 8th and 9th position in the overall championship with five events remaining.

The event was won by Andy Burton in his Peugeot with BTR team mates Steve Perez and Paul Spooner finishing in second place in their 2007 Ford Focus WRC. The teams next outing is the Plains Rally on Saturday 15th May based in Welshpool.