Vauxhall takes victory in Ulster Rally

The triumph marked Vauxhall's first success since its return to top-level rallying 18 months ago.

Despite, gruelling conditions, it was Wearden's first outright victory in the British Championship.

A series of dramas in the opening miles enabled the 27-year-old to seize the lead from 1997 Champion Mark Higgins on the fourth of the 21 timed special stages.

From that point the Astra was uncatchable, despite second-placed Gwyndaf Evans slicing into Wearden's lead in the closing stages.

Volkswagen's Mark Higgins finished third.

After the event Wearden said, 'It's brilliant. The most I could reasonably hope for in my first season at this level, with only six rounds in the championship, was that first win. So I'm really pleased to have got it.

'Trevor and I knew this event was going to be very, very tricky, that it would be a thinking man's rally.

'On these roads, you have to know where to push hard and where to hang back a bit. We used our heads and it paid off.'

Wearden was driving the latest and lightest version of the competition Astra, built to FIA 'Kit Car' regulations for two-litre front-wheel drive cars.

Vauxhall motorsport manager Mike Nicholson said, 'This is a great reward for the whole Vauxhall team. Neil was under a lot of pressure, but he didn't put a foot wrong.

'This result reflects the progress we're making with the car, too.'