DORCHESTER rally driver Anthony Willmington and co-driver Andy White stormed their way to a dominant win at the Bovington Rally.

The event organised by Bourne-mouth & District Car Club was the first to be held on the Bovington Camp test tracks for seven years and in doing so raised funds for Help the Heroes, The Army Benevolent fund and the Bovington Nursery School.

A total of 83 crews battled over eight demanding stages throughout the day covering a total of 60 miles.

Seeded four in their Haskings Fencing backed Mitsubishi Evo 6, Willmington and White were fastest on the opening two stages. That gave them a 10-second lead over regular tarmac rally specialist Steve Furzeland in his more powerful and modern Subaru world rally car and the ex-works Hyundai Accent WRC driven by Karl Broad.

The pace quickened throughout the day, Willmington blasting through with further fastest times and reaching an average speed in excess of 70mph and even able to catch and pass Broad’s Hyundai on stage four, even though Broad set off 30 seconds before.

At the midway point the Dorchester pair had a healthy 21-second lead with the only pressure coming from James Harvey in his Subaru Impreza. Even though Harvey managed a two-second win over Willmington on stage six it was to no avail, as again they upped the pace over the final two stages to take a convincing victory, finishing 25 seconds clear of Harvey and the rest of the chasing pack.

The nature of the military proving ground, which included plenty of twisty sections and tight chicanes – which he clipped on stage five pitching the car up on to two wheels – rather than the flat out blasts of airfield based rallies, played to the strengths of his car. Willmington said: “It shows that an older car can still be competitive, especially at a venue that puts the onus on the driving as opposed to outright power.”

The Dorset duo were awarded the Patten Cup for their victory, which was donated by Bournemouth club member Graham Patten, and presented by Bovington Army Camps Captain David Goddard.

The pair would like to thank their successful team and the on-going support of Ray Haskings of Haskings Fencing.