ANOTHER PODIUM FOR PEREZ
VK Vodka Kick rally driver Steve Perez maintained his impressive record with his fourth consecutive ANCRO podium as he maintained his 2007 MSA Gravel Rally Championship lead following the Severn Valley National Rally today.

Along with Berwickshire co driver Claire Mole the Chesterfield businessman was using his 2003 Ford Focus WRC as his 2005 car is en route back from the Barbados Rally Carnival whereby he was contesting the event last weekend, and despite some tyre problems earlier on Perez maintained a good pace to lie in third overall after the first loop of stages.

Once the problem was rectified the 2004 National Champion speeded up but his progress was hampered when he lost first gear in the long Radnor stage, but he battled back to end up at the Builth Wells finish in third place overall behind the Peugeot Cosworth of Andy Burton and main ANCRO rival Marcus Dodd (Hyundai Accent).

More importantly Perez maintained his championship lead thanks to being the second placed points scorer in the ANCRO Championship and as a result goes into next month’s Swansea Bay National Rally 17 points ahead of Dodd when battle recommences on July 21st.

“We made a mistake with our tyres early on. It’s been good. If we’d not put those tyres on we might have done a bit better but it’s a good result for the championship points. I thought we were going to do better than that (3rd) but it’s been a good rally today and well organised. I look forward to seeking revenge over Marcus on the next event” said Perez.

Final results:
1, Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson (Peugeot Cosworth) 1:01:41.5
2, Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent) 1:01:46.0
3, Steve Perez/Claire Mole (Ford Focus) 1:01:54.3
4, Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi Evo 0) 1:03:26.7
5, Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza) 1:04:03.5
6, Sebastian Ling/Aled Rees (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:04:08.0
7, Nigel Griffiths/Andrew Owens (Subaru Impreza) 1:04:54.5
8, Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:05:01.8
9, Nik Elsmore/Vicky Allen (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:05:21.7
10, Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:05:22.2

2007 MSA Gravel Rally C/ship Standings (Provisional):
1, Steve Perez 89 points
2, Marcus Dodd 72 points
3, Sebastian Ling 68 points
4, Phillip Morrow 67 points
5, Jock Armstrong 61 points
Picture attached of Steve Perez and Claire Mole in action today courtesy of www.cmwi.net

Issued on behalf of VK Vodka Kick Championship Rally Team by Cartersport, PO Box 150, NORTHALLERTON DL6 3WZ.