A MISTAKE once again cost Flookburgh rally driver Aaron McClure as his hopes of a title victory ended, writes LEE BENN.

The South Cumbrian endured a tough weekend at the eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally, in Shropshire, with a costly mistake on stage three.

Requiring nothing less than victory to keep his BTRDA title hopes alive, the 21-year-old made a wrong turn off the route to end his chances of scooping class honours.

“I’m truly devastated for Elliott (Edmondson, his co-driver), the team, and myself at what happened,” he said.

“I just simply took the wrong line into a junction and turned into what I thought was the road we needed and it ended up being the next one along.”

The Allfloors Express Yokohama-backed Mitsubishi E9 pilot had headed to the Ludlow-based event with a target of securing a class victory which would revive his season.

Following a disappointing finish to the Nicky Grist Stages in July, McClure had one final chance to vault towards the top of the standings from fourth with victory at the Woodpecker.

Accompanied by Edmondson, it appeared the duo were set to do just that on the back of the opening stage, taking third spot and sitting well inside the top 10 overall.

In order to continue their winning form, the team could little afford any of the mechanical failures which disrupted McClure’s performance in his last outing.

But an underpowered Mitsubishi on stage two meant he had no such luck, leaving the team on the back foot and needing to make up a chunk of time in the Welsh set of stages.

But on the New Radnor test, McClure dived up an unsighted road and lost almost 40 seconds – along with any chance of victory.

“I knew it was going to be a lot to ask to win this weekend, but to end our title chase like this is a real bitter pill to swallow,” he added.

“It’s tough to take right now, but I know these things make you stronger.

“We shocked ourselves early on with the results we were getting, and we are realising just how quick the pace is, but we’ve got to be happy with our first year in the car – this year was always meant to be a learning year.”

Despite the setback, McClure did not let off throughout the remainder of the event and crossed the finish line at the Ludlow Racecourse rally base fourth in the N4 category.

He remains determined to put on a strong showing in the final two stages of the season.

“We’re just going to go into the last two rounds and try and make them count,” he said. “I’d like to get at least a win this year.”

McClure, who is targeting a return to the British Championship next year, will seek to capture that first win at the Trackrod Stages in Yorkshire later this month, before the Cambrian Rally draws the season to a close in October.

The team are supported by IPD Motorsport Services, Camp Road Garage, Carcraft Body Repairs, BE Hargan, Darce Tech Racing, Questmead, Revolution, AMS and MCR Motorsport Media.