Junior ace Matt takes top spot (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Junior ace Matt takes top spot

12:10pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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TEENAGER Matt Griffin is the new leader of the BTRDA Junior Rally Championship after his best performance of the year.

The talented 18-year-old from Blackburn finished third in class and 53rd overall on last weekend’s Quinton Stages, based in Wales.

And that result was enough to propel Griffin, left, to the top of the drivers table in the BTRDA Junior and Under-25’s series.

“We were determined to finish in the top three in order to keep up our challenge, but it was very close!” said Griffin, who was co-driven by Joe Cruttenden from Rochdale, in a Volkswagen Lupo.

“Going into the final stage of the day, we were seven seconds behind Chris Hellings, who was lying third.

“But a late surge, and no mistakes, did the trick and we crossed the line with a 12-second advantage.

“Apart from a faulty oil pressure light, the car didn’t miss a beat, and the stages on Epynt and Crychan Forest were fantastic. I would have to say that this was our best performance of the year.”

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Griffin, who is only in his second season of rallying.

He has suffered punctures on his last three outings, the Dukeries, Plains and Somerset Stages which have affected his overall position.

“It’s been very frustrating, so before last weekend’s event I set about trying to get to the bottom of the problem with the help of Shropshire Rallyschool, who are supporting me this year,” he said.

As well as leading the two BTRDA Championships, Griffin is also lying second overall in the Rally First Championship.

The championships run on seven of the one-day forest events that form part of the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, with the best five scores to count.

The next round of the Championship is the Wood-pecker Stages, based in Ludlow, Shropshire, on September 5.

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