After a year’s absence from the event, Kick Energy Rally driver Steve Perez returned to the Forest of Dean for the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally but sadly for him, he couldn’t repeat his victory of 2010 on the opening round of the REIS Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series.
Along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, the 2010 champions encountered a pair of punctures as well as the treacherously icy stages in their Ford Focus WRC but after sliding off on the opening stage, Perez fought back to set fastest time on the second stage.
However, the first of two punctures came on SS3 whereby the triple British Champion dropped a minute but gamely battled on only for the following stage to end his hopes of a good result when a second puncture proved terminal when the flailing rubber broke the front transmission and also the rim and as a result left the Chesterfield driver stranded mid-stage.
Steve said afterwards: “It was very icy but despite that, I really enjoyed it, after all, that’s what rally driving is all about. Like most, we ended up on a bank in the first stage but we were fastest by 17 seconds in SS2 and I loved it. Then the puncture on SS3 dropped us back but when we got yet another puncture, it ended up breaking the wheel and the halfshaft and although I tried to continue, it was game over. Not scoring this weekend isn’t ideal and we know we will miss the Dukeries too so we can’t afford too many problems from now on. I’m really looking forward to the Malcolm Wilson Rally next month where I can renew my battle with a certain Mr Bird in his back yard. There’s a freezer full of chicken riding on that result if I beat him so he says!”
The Malcolm Wilson Rally is based in Cockermouth and takes place on Saturday 3rd March. Full details and results of the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally are available on at www.wyedeanrally.com
Action pictures attached: Steve Perez and Paul Spooner on today’s Team GMF Wyedean Rally -courtesy of Mark Simpson (mark@cmwi.net) and Simon Clarke (www.sc-photography.co.uk).
Image attached: Steve Perez’s Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally came to an abrupt end on the fourth stage.
ENDS
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