Simon Lassam, of Childrey, and Katie Bott notched up their first class win of the season in the Heart of England Rally Championship after a gruelling day of rallying in some of the worst conditions ever witnessed at the Abingdon Motorsport Carnival.

Moose Motorsport's Forever on Film-sponsored Suzuki Swift GTi was hit by a number of problems during the opening stages, but the team's mechanics worked hard to ensure the car was able to continue.

Lassam said: "The weather quickly put pay to any hopes we had of an easy day - some of the stages were like rivers. We would have been better off in a boat."

Many competitors failed to reach the finish on Sunday (June 9) after going off the road in the treacherous conditions, but during the afternoon, Lassam and Bott attacked the rain-soaked airfield roads in an attempt to regain the time lost during the morning.

Their efforts were rewarded as they completed the 90-mile long rally 63rd overall and well ahead of their main championship rivals.

Lassam stays second in the Class A Championship, while Bott extended her lead in the Lady Drivers' Championship.