MALVERN driver Bob Ceen claimed his first maximum points haul of the season in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship.

Along with co-driver Andy Bull from Birmingham in their Subaru Impreza World Rally car, the title contender secured an outright victory at the Severn Valley Stages.

The crew previously won the round in 2009 and Bob Ceen said: “It’s nice to be back here. I have always liked these stages.”

Their victory lifted them to second in the championship behind Worcester driver Paul Davy, who continues to hold both the overall and Group ‘N’ category leads despite losing out in Powys.

The early stages saw Ceen having to work hard to hold off the Mitsubishi Lancer of Luke Francis and co-driver John H Roberts until they suffered a mishap.

They limped their car back to the lunchtime service halt at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, where frantic welding by their service crew kept them in the event.

But the lost ground was too much for them to make up in the afternoon and they were forced to settle for second place.

Dylan Davies and co-driver Llion Williams took the final podium place in their Subaru Impreza.

The next round is the Nicky Grist Stages from Builth Wells on July 11.