Local rally set up the ROCHDALE EXCHANGE CANCER RESEARCH RALLY TEAM had their best rally yet holding fifth for three quarters of the Plains rally, Wales at the weekend.

John Matthews, driver, said 'My right foot was firmly to the floor all day and Alexis Harper, co driver, was on top form. On stage one we had no turbo power and we still came fifth! There were at least a dozen cars smashed to smithereens on that stage. Maybe it's a good job the turbo was out of order.'

Mechanic Paul Blackburn fixed the problem. We then drove much much faster. We came 8th and the only reason for that is we were catching the guys in front. We were held up. It was so dusty it was impossible to see, like driving in fog, which cost us a lot of time. There is no doubt that our times would have been a lot faster without the dust. It was an awesome rally, the car sideways all day, dust filling the cockpit. At one point I had to open the window mid slide in order to see ahead. Some of the drops were over 1000 feet down and a couple of cars spun off some serious drops.'

This is the third event that we haven't put a foot wrong. It is a credit to Jim Stanton's from Littleborough and Adam Biggars, who both worked very hard to get the car in order. It paid off. The car was perfect and running like a rocket.'

The team is stronger than ever and I am very happy with the result. We are now consistent and solid which is very important. The good thing is that the slow coaches will be behind us on the next event! It's a matter of time before we are at the front. The fastest Daihatsu is only 2 seconds a mile quicker than us. We can match that, no doubt.'

The team also found time to help raise some money for the CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN last month. With over £600 in the bag, they hope to raise £4000 during this season.

The Plains rally was the second round of the Pioneer Daihatsu Challenge. The rally took place over the Welsh mountains and forests starting in Newtown on Saturday May 6th.

FULL ROUND UP / RESULTS

Next Race: Millbrook on May 29th

ENDS

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