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County Durham businessman Steve Petch, a multiple rallying champion, returned to active competition last weekend when he contested the Malcolm Wilson rally in Cumbria. Despite setting a string of top times Steve’s rally ended after a visit to a ditch in the infamous Comb forest.
Steve, father of Mitsubishi Evo Challenge front runner Stephen Petch junior, and proprietor of SGP Motorsport, one of the top rally car preparation companies in the country, was contesting the second round of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane BTRDA rally Championship in one of his company’s Hyundai Accent World Rally Cars and despite not competing for quite a while was quickly on the pace of the front runners.
Going 8th quickest through the opening stage showed Steve how the pace of British rallying had moved on since his retirement. He duly responded with 4th fastest through Grizedale, as he began to chase the more modern world rally cars ahead.
A string of top 5 times throughout the rest of the day saw Petch remain in touch with the leaders and the former champion looked set for a solid result when he was unexpectedly caught out by a tight corner. The Hyundai Accent WRC ended up in a ditch where, although there was little damage, the lack of spectators meant the car was going no further.
SGP Motorsport will be back in action supporting Stephen Petch Junior in the second round of the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge, the Border Counties Rally.
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