James Ford and co-driver Neil Colman have won the Rallye Sunseeker Challenge 2012, which took place last Friday and Saturday in the forests of Bournemouth and Poole.
The Rallye Sunseeker Challenge 2012 is part of the MSA British Rally Championship and is the only rally race which takes place in the south of England.
Mr Ford, driver of the Ford Escort Mk2, said: “The first stage was bit difficult, but after that it was going alright. I had problems with the gear box and tyres but apart from that it was good.”
He completed the 66 mile long race in 0:54:49.6.
Mr Ford and Mr Colman were closely followed by runners-up Richard Sykes and his co-driver Simon Taylor, who drove a Citroen C2R2 Max.
An evidently happy Mr Sykes said: “I’ve got up at 6.30, there is a couple of Stellas at the back of the van. Someone else can drive on now.”
Amongst the crowd was Sky Sports News Presenter Jon Desborough, who said: “The first two drivers were leveled after 50- 60 miles, and in any sport where you have two neck and neck like that after that amount of competition, you wonder what could go wrong. They were banged on after all of these miles, that’s a good competition.”
Third place went to Gareth White and Mike Dickson who also drove a Citroen C2R2 Max.
All the winners were congratulated by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Chris Rochester, and his wife.
They were also given a small souvenir from Poole Pottery and a bottle of a champagne.
The race went through Gore Heath, Wareham Main, Bere Heath, Rinwood West, Somerley, Uddens Water, Ringwood South and North and Uddens.
