RICHMOND brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine have clinched one of the prestigious BTRDA rally championships in their 1400cc Vauxhall Nova at only their second attempt.

The pair picked up their awards at a star-studded ball in Birmingham last week after totally dominating the B9 class of the national series.

Such was their lead after winning the first six rounds, they didn't even have to contest the final three rallies.

After finishing runners-up in the 1999 BTRDA series in the Victoria Garage Motorsport-backed car, driver Mark, 30, who is a building supervisor, and 29-year-old co-driver Andrew, who works as a quantity surveyor, began their assault back in February with a win on the Wyedean Rally near Chepstow, despite dropping time through punctures.

A month later the crew, both of whom only started stage rallying four years ago, sampled victory again on the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District. That was despite ripping off an exhaust, which warranted a trip back to Grizedale Forest the following week to find the wayward part and save themselves £300 for a replacement.

Three weeks on, it was on to their home event, the North Humberside Rally held in the Yorkshire forests. They didn't disappoint their local following by taking a close 20-second win over local ace Mark Simpson from Kirkbymoorside, also in a Nova.

With three wins out of three, it was off to Minehead for the Somerset Stages Rally in April, where the team had to contend with snow and rain. But they still came away with a four-minute victory, before heading south to Wales a month later for the Plains Rally.

The Welsh event - considered a classic by many and one which Mark had always wanted to do well in - had been cruel to them the previous year when they retired on the very first stage.

But there were no problems this time round as they took yet another class victory by a huge margin to place one hand firmly on the championship trophy.

It was back to Wales again in mid-summer for the Red Dragon Rally, held in the classic forests around Cardiff.

Here yet another perfect performance clinched their sixth successive class victory and the championship. It also earned them recognition from Motoring News as the Most Consistent Crew in their recent awards ceremony.

Mark was hoping to round off the season in good fashion when he entered the Gravel Sprint in Dalby Forest last month, but he managed to roll the car at the same place for the second year running, much to his disappointment.

However, despite the setback, the team is rebuilding and updating the Nova in preparation for a shot at the Formula 1400 British Championship next season.

On this year's performance, it would take a brave man to bet against the Constantines