WILPSHIRE’S Matt Griffin has won his class in the BTRDA Rally Series with one round to spare.

The 21-year-old produced a solid performance at Saturday’s Wood-pecker Stages Rally in Ludlow, Shropshire – despite dusty cond-itions causing engine problems throughout the day – and now has an unassailable lead in the driver’s section of the 1400L class.

The Woodpecker Stages was the seventh round out of eight in 2011, with the Cambrian Rally taking place in north Wales on October 8.

Together with co-driver Joe Cruttenden, Griffin completed the Ludlow course in 57 minutes 24 seconds in his Rallyschool VW Lupo to gain the maximum 20 points in the 1400L class.

That saw him extend his lead over Southampton’s Tim Suth-erland by two to 26 points with only 20 points available at the Cambrian Rally.

Griffin also stands sixth overall in the standings for the BTRDA 1400 Series and fifth in the rankings for the Junior Driver Award.

The driver, who recently completed a BSc degree course in Motorsport Logistics and Man-agement at Myerscough College, has enjoyed a more happier year this time around after breaking his wrist in 2010.

He paid tribute to Rallyschool and their manager John Goff, who have helped to prepare his car.

“It’s a great result not just for myself but for every one who has kept the Lupo competitive throughout the year – John Goff and Rallyschool – especially after breaking my wrist last year,” Griffin said. “We decided before the rally to aim at beating the main competitors in the 1400L class and also drive for a finish to score the points needed to secure the class.

“My aim for the rest of this year is to secure the Swisher MSA English Junior Driver champ-ionship, which I’m presently leading with the Trackrod and Tempest Rallies still remaining.”

Griffin leads that championship by a gap of 12 points from North Yorkshire’s Ashley Slights. The Trackrod Clubman Rally is in Scarborough on September 24.