Despite retiring from active competition over a year ago Steve Petch Senior, the proprietor of SG Petch Motorsport, still likes to dust off the cobwebs and come out for the occasional play. And eager to support his local event the former national rally driver showed he still has the pace as he brought his Hyundai Accent World Rally Car home fourth overall and second in class, taking an overall fastest stage time on the very last stage on the snow inflicted rally.

However his rally was hampered by event long over heating problems, a bit ironic considering the sub zero temperatures experienced. Eventually the engine cried enough as he and co driver John Richardson returned to the finish, but despite this late drama he was happy with his day out in the woods.

“Even though the car was overheating all day long we had a great day out. The conditions were made all the more tricky by the snow fall but what is rallying without changeable conditions.” said Steve.

Son Stephen, the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge PIAA Junior Champion, had an interesting day when he ran as course car and was effectively creating a path through the snow for the competitors following behind.

He said: “I can’t say I enjoy running first on the road in these conditions but we got the car home in one piece so that’s the main thing. My plans for 2008 are coming along nicely now so we’ve got a lot to look forward to.”

Steve Petch Senior finished the 6 stage event a mere 18 seconds off of the final podium position and ran consistently inside the top 5 all event long. Both cars will now be completely rebuilt ahead of the 2008 season.

Although now classified as ‘retired from rallying’ Steve wheeled out one of the firms Hyundai Accent World Rally Cars for ‘a bit of a play’ as he joined son Stephen, who was driving the very same Mitsubishi Evo IX that David Higgins drove to a podium on the final round of the 2006 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship only one week earlier.

A cautious approach to the start of the rally saw Steve Senior go only 7 seconds quicker than his hard charging son through the opening stage but as he got back in the rhythm so his times improved, equalling the time set by Barry Johnson who was driving an ex Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza WRC through the second stage.

The afternoon stages saw Steve Petch senior find the groove and the former champion flew through the forests to set some top times, including being second fastest through the final stage to only eventual rally winner, and World Rally Championship star, Matt Wilson who was driving a 2006 Ford Focus WRC.

By contrast Stephen Junior struggled with setup problems in the morning and just when he had the car to his liking he began suffering from brake fade towards the end of the last two stages. Despite this, Stephen was more than happy with 4th in class and 8th overall. “I‚Äôm just so relieved to have got to the end. I‚Äôve been having a bit of bad luck lately and it was nice to go a whole event without any real dramas. The stages were really slippy but both Michael and I enjoyed ourselves out there. I have to say a special thanks to everyone at SGP Motorsport for re-prepping the car so quickly, as David Higgins was using it on Rally GB last weekend.”

Stephen’s Mitsubishi Evo IX will now be totally stripped down and rebuilt in preparation for another assault on the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge in 2007, where the prize, a fully funded season in the British Rally Championship with Mitsubishi, is one of the most sought after in rallying.

Despite being officially retired from rallying, team principal Steve Petch, a former national rallying champion in his own right, will be out in a Hyundai World Rally Car on what is effectively his home event and has to be a strong favourite for podium honours. A member of the team said: “In 2005 Guy Wilks ran out in one of our Hyundai‚Äôs and he repaid us by taking the victory, so it would be nice to try and repeat that this weekend, but there is some stiff competition out there.”

Stephen Petch Junior will also be out in action, fighting for Group N honours. Using the very same Mitsubishi Evo IX that David Higgins used to good effect only 1 week before on Wales Rally GB. Stephen knows that competition will be close and is relishing the opportunity to strut his stuff once more before the end of the season. He said: “Everyone seems to be coming out for a play this weekend and there is some tough competition that we are going up against, but I‚Äôm really looking forward to it. Full credit to the team for re-prepping the car since last weekend, they really are a top bunch of people.”

Despite uncertainty earlier in the year about whether the event would even run or not, the organisers have pulled out all stops to ensure the 2006 Grizedale Stages is the best yet and with over 40 miles of forest stages it would appear a lot of competitors are putting their weight behind one of the last forest rallies of 2006.

For more on the rally please visit www.grizedalestages.co.uk