ANDERSON'S RACE AGAINST TIME.....

County Durham rally driver Chris Anderson is facing a race against time but he plans to be in action on this Sunday's Stobart Rail Pendragon Stages Rally based in Penrith, Cumbria.

The 17-year-old maintenance engineer from Butterknowle near Bishop Auckland is planning on using his ex Guy Wilks Ford Puma S1600 on what will be only his second multi-venue event but ongoing engine and ECU problems, which necessitated Chris to hire a Mitsubishi Lancer last time out, has caused a last minute dilemma for him.

Speaking today, Chris said: "The engine and ECU are away getting sorted so providing we get them back in time, we should have no problems and that's the plan but I'm considering a contingency plan should we encounter any last minute problems. I really enjoyed driving the Mitsubishi Lancer and it may be we need to look at hiring that again but it all depends on the situation with the Puma. Either way, I need to be out there as after the problems we suffered on Otterburn, I need to get a multi-venue result under my belt."

Having taken a fine 22nd overall and 7th in class on his four-wheel drive debut a month ago, Anderson will once again team up with experienced co-driver Chris Thirling in their MSR Motorsport-prepared and Wilkinson Maintenance Ltd, John Cullerton & Sons and Bells Truck Sales-sponsored car for the event which uses venues such as Lowther Park and Warcop Camp and will see a capacity 120 cars take to the start line.

The event is also a qualifying round of the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Rally Championship which Anderson is contesting this year also.

The action gets underway at 9.00am on Sunday morning from Penrith Leisure Centre followed by the first visit to the spectator stage at Lowther at 9.50am and the second visit around 1.35pm. For further information, please visit www.pendragonstages.co.uk

Picture attached (courtesy of Ian Hardy) Chris Anderson in action in the ex Guy Wilks Ford Puma S1600
ENDS