Strong Run For Petch On Home Rally
Monday, December 10th, 2007A week after overseeing his son’s world rallying debut Steve Petch Senior enjoyed a strong end to the season when the ‘retired’ rallying ace finished fourth overall on his local event, the Coppermine Grizedale Stages.
Despite retiring from active competition over a year ago Steve Petch Senior, the proprietor of SG Petch Motorsport, still likes to dust off the cobwebs and come out for the occasional play. And eager to support his local event the former national rally driver showed he still has the pace as he brought his Hyundai Accent World Rally Car home fourth overall and second in class, taking an overall fastest stage time on the very last stage on the snow inflicted rally.
However his rally was hampered by event long over heating problems, a bit ironic considering the sub zero temperatures experienced. Eventually the engine cried enough as he and co driver John Richardson returned to the finish, but despite this late drama he was happy with his day out in the woods.
“Even though the car was overheating all day long we had a great day out. The conditions were made all the more tricky by the snow fall but what is rallying without changeable conditions.” said Steve.
Son Stephen, the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge PIAA Junior Champion, had an interesting day when he ran as course car and was effectively creating a path through the snow for the competitors following behind.