AFTER three successive non finishes Castleton driver Ryan Champion eventually got his 2005 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge campaign up and running in dramatic fashion after the Jedburgh-based Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally went down to the wire.

After 72 miles of stages in the notoriously unforgiving forests of the Kielder complex, just a tenth of a second separated Champion and York co-driver Craig Thorley from winners Phillip and Simon Morrow.

Following on from retirement on the opening round of the series at Rallye Sunseeker last month, Champion was intent on a good result in the Scottish borders but a puncture early on threatened to scupper his bid as he lost half a minute.

With some spirited driving, Champion threw caution to the wind and survived a fourth gear moment on SS6 to go into the final test with just ten seconds separating the top four crews.

There, Champion set the fastest time but as the other crews emerged from the Wauchope Two test near Hawick, it was Ulsterman Morrow who had wrested victory by the click of a finger much to his delight.

Despite his frustration at missing out by such a tiny amount, Champion was happy enough with the result.

"At last I've broken my duck and I'm delighted to see the finish ramp for a change," he said.

"To lose out by a tenth of a second is frustrating but I have to say all credit to Phil because he drove magnificently.''

As a result, Champion moved into the top six of the drivers' series with Thorley doing likewise in the Co drivers standings going into the next round and the Roush Manx Rally on May 6 and 7.

l Former Scottish champion Barry Johnson turned on the style on his local event by winning Round Two of the MSA National Gravel Rally Championship - The Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally - held in an unseasonably mild and sunny Kielder Forest complex.

Driving the ex-Petter Solberg Barrier Surveillance Subaru Impreza WRC, the Shildon driver edged out the Stobart Ford Focus WRC of Paul Bird and Ian Windress by over 17 seconds with former champion Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery finishing third in their Flitewise Hyundai Accent WRC half a minute further adrift.

The result means that all three drivers are separated by a single point going into the next round in the Isle of Man in May with Dodd and Bird sharing the lead and Johnson a point adrift in third.

Published: 21/03/2005