Justin Birchall crowned his British Cross Country Champion-ship campaign with his maiden win of the series on last weekend’s final round in South Wales.

Birchall was co-driven by his wife Louise, as regular co-driver Ross Butterworth was unable to contest the Glynneath-based event that used parts of Walters Arena, famed for being a regular feature of Wales Rally GB.

The Pendle and District Motor Club crew were quickest to master the slippery conditions launching their Birchall Catering Supplies-backed Peugeot M206 Evo into an early lead, leaving the main title contenders Tim Dilworth and Stephen Hiatt, battling behind.

Saturday’s schedule saw half the 40 car strong entry being forced into retirement and the Birchalls almost added their name to that list on the day’s final run.

They collected a puncture after taking evasive action to avoid a stricken car and after finishing the stage on a broken rim minus a tyre they found the suspension’s trailing arm had snapped.

With no spare their only option was to make a replacement part from some scrap metal and hope it would survive the rigors of Sunday’s stages.

Fortunately their engineering efforts proved successful and despite losing the lead on the days opening run they stormed back in fine style to clinch victory by a slender four second margin.

Following Hiatt’s retirement with a gearbox problem Dilworth claimed 2010 Britpart MSA British Cross Country Champion but Birchall was quick to tell him: “You’ll only have it for one year as I’ll be aiming to win it in 2011.”