CHRIS Griffiths ended a six-year barren spell when he won the Philips Tour of Mull Rally in his Subaru Impreza.

The Welshman dominated the event, snatching the lead on the second stage and resisting fierce pressure to win by just over two minutes.

Run over 175 miles of closed public roads on the island of Mull, the unique 2300 Club of Blackburn-organised event is the longest national rally in Britain.

The year's Mull celebrated its 30th anniversary by bringing 'city centre rallying' to the sport for the first time with the running of the opening one-mile stage through the streets of Tobermory.

And it was multiple Tarmac champion John Price who set the pace in his Metro 6R4, stopping the clocks one second faster than Griffiths after the opening blast through the island capital.

But Griffiths, partnered by Aled Davies, responded by opening up a 20-second advantage after the notorious Glen Aros stage, establishing a lead he never relinquished.

The highly-rated Callum Duffy got no further than Stage Three, when the suspension broke on his Ford Escort, launching the Mullieach into the armco barriers.

Dougi Hall finished second overall after Scotsman James MacGillivray crashed out four stages from home, with Price having to settle for third.

Callum Guy finished fourth, and top F2 runner, after a long battle with fellow Vauxhall Astra driver Daniel Harper, from Barley, near Nelson.

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