WITH almost half the starters not making the finish, Darren Atkinson and Phil Sandham guided their Ford Escort Mk2 to a comfortable win on the Legend Fires SMC Stages at Weeton.

The perimeter roads of the Army camp near Blackpool look innocuous enough, but the tight and twisty turns, combined with high kerbs make the venue a car-breaker.

Second place went to Trevor Smith and Claire Rigg in a similar Mk2, with Rossendale driver John Deegan scoring one of his best-ever results by taking third in his Honda Civic Type R.

East Lancashire husband and wife pairing Chris and Heidi Woodcock were forced to retire their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 on SS7 with broken transmission, having got as high as ninth.

Organised by Stockport Motor Club, the event was sponsored by Legend Fires of Blackburn.