Huggate driver Jonny Milner will have to wait until September to contest the next round of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship – due to a tree infection.

Milner currently leads the series after claiming victories in rounds two and three in his Toyota Corolla WRC.

However, the fourth round, the Swansea Bay Rally, which was due to take place this Saturday, has had to be postponed.

Part of the route used on the South Wales event passes through Welsh Assembly Government woodlands that are affected by the recent outbreak of the tree disease caused by the Phytophthora ramorum (P ramorum) infection.

P ramorum can be spread by tree needles and soil clinging to people or vehicles.

As the competing cars would travel between infected woodlands and uninfected areas several times during the course of the rally, there would be a high risk of spreading the disease, which kills many of the trees that it infects.

Forestry Commission Wales met with the rally organisers, Port Talbot Motor Club, to try to identify an alternative route away from the woodlands affected.

As the organisers were not able to find roads in the area that meet the standard required for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship, they have taken the decision to postpone the event.

Meanwhile, the two Malton Motor Club (MMC) crews who competed in Saturday’s Oban-based Rally of Argyll, posted good results.

Richard Spink and Nigel Hutchinson brought their Mk2 Ford Escort home in 20th position overall and third in class three.

Curly Haigh and Sally Peacock finished 25th overall in their Mk1 Ford Escort and fourth in class three on the 43-mile forest gravel event.