Chipping Norton's Ray and Yvonne Kempster emerged victorious from the Hillrally 2006 supported by BRITPART, the final round of this year's Matador Tyres National Hillrally Championship, after 19 timed stages in the forests around Bala, Bryn and Penllyn in Mid-Wales.

Bromsgrove's James Webb and co-driver Chris Hammond clinched second overall by a single second in a Buggy GM Proto from Huddersfield's Matt Harrison and co-driver James Baxter.

Bridgnorth builder Ian Rochelle and co-driver Amanda Garratley did enough with a troubled eighth place to clinch the 2006 Matador Tyres National Hillrally Championship by a single point.

Milner Protruck driver Ray Kempster said: "It was a matter of keeping going and taking no risks on the final stages. It's a great feeling to finish the season with a win."

Organised by Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management, the Hillrally attracted an impressive 40-plus car entry and it was Mark Andrews who headed into the outright lead after the opening two specials around Bryn and Ty-Ucha, only for rear differential problems to thwart his progress soon after.

Kempster threw down the gauntlet towards the end of the first day and edged into a 1min 41sec overnight lead with fastest times on the tenth and 11th stages.

Secretary of the meeting and event spokesman, Andy Flynn, said: "We were delighted with the turn-out for the last round of the series and how competitive this championship has become in such a short space of time. There is a lot of interest in this type of motorsport at the moment."