Zak is back with a bang

A Welshpool teenager has opened his new rally season with a win, proving that last year’s national championships success was no one-off.

After being crowned 2017 Suzuki Swift Series Champion, Zak Hughes, 18, moved up to the Fiesta ST Trophy for 2018, a competitive ‘one make’ series that follows the BTRDA National Rally Championship. 

With new Co-Driver, Tom Wood from Cwmbran, reading the notes, the team started the opening round – the Cambrian Rally based out of Llandudno – in cautious mood and were sitting comfortably in second at the event’s halfway stage, just 11 seconds off the lead.

A big push in the afternoon was enough to close the gap further. On Stage 5 the rough conditions of the North Wales Forests took their toll on leaders Richard Wells/Calvin Holdsworth, as they broke a drive shaft and retired. Hughes capitalised to bring home the win by over a minute on their debut.

“It was a fantastic day for us,” said Hughes. “There was a lot to learn with the new car, the new stages and a new co-driver.

“Tom did fantastic on the pace notes and the car was handling brilliantly, this gave me so much confidence in the afternoon. It’s a great achievement to win on my debut in this very competitive Championship, but there is no time to dwell on the success as preparation starts for round two in just two weeks.

“The continuing support and Sponsorship from Philip Paul Car Centre is invaluable in giving us the opportunity to compete at this level in the sport.”