MOTORSPORT: Wolverley farmer Robert Archer has put his best result of the season down to a growing understanding with new co-driver Peter Field.

Archer drove to victory in his B11 class and 12th overall out of 140 competitors in the latest round of the BTRDA Rally Series' Silver Star Championship.

The 47-year-old is now joint second in his section after a fine display at Sherwood Forest, near Mansfield, in the Dukeries Rally.

Along with Field, also of Wolverley, he finished in 47 minutes and 20 seconds in his Ford Escort Mark 2.

They were a minute ahead of Philip and Michael Squires, who were second in their class, and three minutes behind overall winners Brian Bell and Paul Spooner.

Archer admitted: "It was a particularly good run at the weekend and we have another three rounds to go.

"There is a possibility I could win it in the end but there is a long way to go yet.

"My navigator is relatively new to the job but is getting better and better now. We are getting a better rapport and understanding."

The experienced Archer is no stranger to success, having bagged the West Midlands Championship and the BTRDA B10 class over the last 10 years.

He is current B11 holder though last season's competition was badly affected by the foot and mouth crisis which reduced the number of rounds and drivers.

Archer added: "I do all the work on the car myself and we are really chuffed at the moment with the way it's going."

The next event in the popular series is the Quinton Stages on July 27 in West Wales with future races centred around Ludlow, Newtown and Llandudno.