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County Durham based Stephen Petch Junior was happy with how the recent Get Connected Wyedean Forest Rally went as he used the event as a high speed test ahead of a full assault on the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge.
Stephen, with Paul Willetts calling the notes, was not daunted by the snowy conditions that faced him after the area experienced exceptionally high snow fall in the days leading up to the BTRDA season opener and was just eager to put a difficult 2006 well and truly behind him.
A top 10 overall time through the opening stage bode well for the SGP Motorsport run Mitsubishi and Stephen then backed this up with another top time on the next stage to move into an early production class lead. Despite the conditions in stage 3, Serridge, being some of the worst of the rally, with up to 6 inches of snow in places, Stephen hustled his Mitsubishi around 10th quickest to end the stage in fifth position overall and leading Group N.
A spin in Stage 4 cost Stephen some time but he still returned to service lying seventh overall and very happy with the morning.
A delighted Stephen said: “Full credit to my service crew – a brilliant choice of tyres for that loop of stages, just a pity I chucked some of my advantage away with a spin in Speechhouse. I think my power steering is going because she is struggling to turn in a bit now.”
The last couple of stages saw ‘Petchie’ struggle as the hydraulics began to play up but the young man did a sterling job to drive around the problem and continued to set a string of top 10 times throughout the afternoon, eventually finishing fourth overall!
The satisfied Durham driver said: “What a rally. A very big thank you must go to Paul for keeping us on the road because it was so tricky in there.”
He added: On behalf on the entire SGP Motorsport team I’d also like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of David Williamson, who was killed in a crash during the rally.”
Stephen now has a two week break before the Sunseeker Rallye, the opening round of the 2007 Evo Challenge