David's on the right track

Farnborough-based rally team, Keris Motorsport have buried the ghost of a nightmare few months to begin the new rally season with a podium finish. Keris chief David Perrelet got his season off to a flying start at the Sunseeker Rally at Bournemouth last weekend with a 2nd place finish in class B20 of the Ancro National Championship - despite driving in a brand new car.

Perrelet's preparation for this year's event were dealt a hammer blow when he wrote off his Peugeot 205 in the last rally of last season. A delay in re-building the car meant that Perrelet had to borrow a car, and thanks to the generosity of fellowHart Motor Clubmember Tim Warburton in lending him his Vauxhall Nova, Perrelet was able to take part as planned.

The team, crewed by 1999 B11 Champion Perrelet and co-driver Stafan Arndt, had only driven the car for the first time on the morning of the event, but still managed to finish the 35 stage rally in 42nd place overall and second in the class.

Perrelet said afterwards:

"I think the results proves that after last year's crash at The Bulldog Rally, since when I have never driven competitively, Stefan and I can still work together well, regardless of which car we drive in. "

The event, which stated and finished at Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, was eventually won by Marcus Dodd in a WRC Subaru, ahead of last year's championship winner Kenny McKinstry