Damian Cole finished 51 seconds off first place

Hereford's Damian Cole finished seventh in the Woodpecker Stages Rally to take the vital third place and win the 2008 Welsh National Rally title.

Cole secured the Welsh Championship title with two rounds of the BTRDA rally still remaining.

�I�m delighted to take the Welsh title for the second year, but I was unhappy with my performance," he said.

"It didn�t come together, up against the local Ludlow competitors who know the stages so well is a challenge."

"We were only 51 seconds behind the winner, a result often good enough for second or third overall, but we finished seventh which shows how close it was.

"We need to maintain our focus and go all out in the final two rallies to take the BTRDA crown and end the season on a high.�

Cole, competing in the Hyundai Accent WRC, needs to take maximum Championship points in both the Plains Rally on 20 September and the final round, the Cambrian Rally on 1 November, if he is to take the BTRDA title.