Steve, who is officially retired, had minimal testing in the ex Damian Cole Subaru Impreza WRC98, but despite that had a fun filled weekend in the car. With conditions varying between bone dry and treacherously wet the SG Petch team principal erred on the side of caution and yet still set some remarkably quick times, considering the age of the car.

“The Impreza was pretty different to my Hyundai. It doesn’t have active diffs so was more like a Mk II Escort at times, but great fun to drive. I really enjoyed the weekend, and a big thanks to all the marshals and organisers for braving the conditions.” said Steve.

The SG Petch Motorsport team were also running son Stephen, who was using his Mitsubishi Evo 9 as the Zero car. With the machine running faultlessly all weekend not only has Stephen got a good base setting for the Ulster Rally in August but he is feeling confident ahead of his next outing, this weekends Severn Valley Rally in Mid Wales.

Stephen currently lies fourth in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge and will be looking for a strong run on the Builth Wells based event.

Steve, who officially retired from rallying at the end of 2005, will be contesting this weekends Kelso based event in a recently acquired Subaru Impreza World Rally Car after he sold the car with which he was intending to compete in.

“I was originally doing the Jim Clark in one of my Hyundai’s, but we sold that not so long ago. So I’ve decided to do the rally in the Subaru Impreza that we took as a part exchange. I don’t see it being that different to the Accent and I’m really looking forward to the rally.” said Steve.

As well as looking after Petch Senior, SG Petch Motorsport will also be running Stephen Petch Juniors’ Mitsubishi Evo 9 on the event. Stephen, who contests the Evo Challenge, is running as Car Zero on the 3 day rally.

The 2007 Jim Clark Rally begins with 2 short spectator stages on Friday night, followed by two long and intense days of rallying along closed public rounds around the home of Jim Clark, in South Scotland. The ceremonial finish is on Sunday afternoon, back in Kelso.