RISING rally star Fraser Anderson chalked up a series of firsts in the BTRDA’s Cambrian Rally at the weekend.

The event, in the challenging forests of north Wales, was not only the first in the new BTRDA and British Rally Championship season: it was also Fraser’s first senior rally, his first gravel rally, his first time driving his Ford Fiesta R2 in anger, his first time with co-driver Sinclair Young on pace notes, his first ‘fastest stage’ time in the BTRDA Rally R2 Cup...and his first puncture too.

The rally saw Fraser return to competition after he was taken under the wing of the 2018 British rally champion Matt Edwards last summer, with Edwards giving the young Shandon star a chance to compete in the Matt Edwards Rallying team in this year’s BRTDA Rally R2 Cup.

READ MORE: Rally star Fraser catches eye of British champion Matt Edwards

Fraser said: “It was a mixed day in the car, getting off to a great start over the first two stages to find myself third in the R2 Cup class and only 2.2 seconds off the lead, thanks to a fastest stage time on stage 2.

“We were settling into the car very well and the pre event preparation was paying off.

“Unfortunately the overall result was tarnished by a puncture on stage three, which dropped us from third to eighth in class.

READ MORE: Fraser's back on top step after Leuchars junior rally

“Next was a short run through the Great Orme stage, which we took easy as we were unsure of the damage to the car after stage three, and knew that we were now minutes behind the others in the class.

“Fortunately the damage was minimal and was checked out in service by the crew provided by Matt Edwards Rallying.

“For the afternoon loop of stages, the strategy changed to making sure that we were taking no risks for a clean run through the final stages and see what our pace was like against the other competitors in the class.

READ MORE: Rising rally star Fraser has eventful end to debut season

“Setting two second and one third fastest stage times showed that the pace was good at a ‘no risk’ approach which bodes well for the rest of the season.

“Thanks to all of the organisers, marshals and to my sponsors for making the event possible.”

Fraser and Sinclair finished sixth in the BTRDA R2 Cup, and 46th overall in his first senior event.

Next up is the second round of the BTRDA championship – the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District on Saturday, March 14.

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