When Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez spun and lost a minute on the second stage of today’s Malcolm Wilson Rally, little did he expect to be crossing the finish line a few hours later as the winner having successfully defended the title he won last year.

Driving the Ford Focus 07 along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, Perez, from Chesterfield, slid off on the treacherously icy Comb stage and knew from that point on, any hopes of victory for a second successive year on the Cockermouth-based event were slim.

Despite that, the former British Historic and National Rally Champion gamely battled on and as the crews headed for the infamous Grizedale tests near Coniston, Perez had clawed his way up to third place when on the penultimate stage, rally leader Paul Bird suffered a problem which forced him out leaving Perez to battle it out for the lead and courtesy of three stage wins in the final four tests, took a 17-second win.

The victory was Steve’s second successive BTRDA Championship round win following his Wyedean victory last month and upon reaching the finish ramp in Cockermouth High Street, which less than four months ago was under eight feet of water, he paid tribute to the spirit of the town.

“This has got to be my most unexpected victory ever as after losing a minute this morning; I thought I had no chance of winning. But it just goes to show if you keep fighting, anything can happen and I’m delighted to retain my title. If anything, it’s even more special as everyone knows what the people of Cockermouth have been through just before Christmas so to have an event like the Malcolm Wilson Rally here, and to have the honour of winning it, really means a lot and I hope they can get back to normality pretty soon,” said Steve.

Steve’s next outing is scheduled for the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales on Saturday 27th March where he plans to call his iconic Lancia Stratos into British Historic Rally Championship action.

Results
1. Steve Perez/Paul Spooner – Ford Focus WRC – 0:48:31
2. Jonathan Greer/Jonny Hart – Ford Focus WRC – 0:48:48
3. Roger Chilman Jnr/Andrew Sankey – Subaru Impreza – 0:50:02
4. Paul Benn/Richard Cooke – Ford Focus WRC – 0:50:02
5. David Wright/Michael Wilkinson – Mitsubishi Evo9 – 0:50:24
6. Stephen Petch/John Richardson – Hyundai Accent WRC – 0:50:30
7. Owen Murphy/Chris Davies – Mitsubishi Evo9 – 0:52:33
8. Gary Cooper/Jon Riley – Subaru Impreza 0:52:48
9. Gary Tomlinson/Nick Fieldhouse – Subaru Impreza – 0:53:16
10. Richard Cook/Edwin Cook – Subaru Impreza – 0:53:57

Picture courtesy of Geoff Mayes.

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Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez and co driver Staffan Parmander have finished in a fantastic third position after completing the final day of the 2009 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally.

Driving the BTR-prepared historic-specification Datsun 260Z, the Chesterfield driver arrived at the Mombasa finish earlier today following the final three stages of the epic ten-day adventure, much to his delight and that of his hard working team.

However, the day wasn’t without problems and despite avoiding a single puncture throughout the whole event; the crew suffered a double puncture including a broken rim on the day’s first test. Perez’s frustration was tempered slightly when his main rival for the final podium position, Gerard Marcy, pulled up in exactly the same spot also with a puncture but with only one wheel to change, was on his way sooner.

Trying to preserve his position, Perez took it easy on the second stage although he punctured again but this time, didn’t have to stop and change on stage as he was just 3km from the finish. With just a few miles between him and his first overseas podium, Perez drove exceptionally cautiously on the third and final stage to bring the car home safely and to begin the celebrations.

“Out of everything I’ve done in rallying, including all the wins I’ve had, this has to be my greatest achievement. This has given me so much pleasure and just to get to the finish is amazing, let alone on the podium. We had a tyre changing race with Gerard and I was a little worried and then on the last stage, and I’m being serious here, my mum would have overtaken us had she been driving we took it so slowly!” said Steve.

Paying tribute to his team, Perez concluded: “A massive thanks to Tim Ashton and the whole of the BTR team as the car has been perfect and ran faultlessly throughout. This is the last of the great rallies and we’re already making plans to come back in 2011 but for now, seeing as though it’s both Staffan’s and another one of our team, Ian’s birthdays today, we’re off to the awards presentation and then we’ll be spending the rest of the night in the bar!”

For further details and full results:
www.eastafricansafarirally.com

Pictures courtesy of Geoff Mayes.

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Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez took a creditable third place on yesterday’s Lewis and Hunter Contracting Cambrian Rally, despite only using the event as a shakedown for next week’s Wales Rally GB.

Along with Welsh co-driver Paul Spooner, the pair were out in the ex Marcus Gronholm 2007 Ford Focus WRC, and even though the main purpose of competing on the Llandudno-based event was a test in preparation for Britain’s World Championship round, Perez was lying in third position after the first stage. On stage two, the Chesterfield ace took a stage win, stopping the clocks three seconds ahead of his rivals despite being on unfamiliar control tyres.

All was going well until the final stage of the day when Steve slid wide on a bend clipping a rock at the side of the road. The impact broke the wheel rim and caused minor damage to the rear suspension, however, the pair were able to make it to the end of the stage without dropping too much time and claim the final step on the podium.

After the event Steve commented: “I’m really pleased with how it has gone this weekend, it was good to compare times with the likes of Hirvonen and Ostberg even though we had not done the recce and we were on control tyres. I am really pleased with a podium finish as I was being cautious today and didn’t want to damage the car, all in all it’s been a great shakedown and I’m really looking forward to Rally GB next week.”

1. Mads Ostberg/Jonas Andersson (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:42:56
2. Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Ford Escort WRC) 0:44:48
3. Steve Perez/Paul Spooner (Ford Focus WRC) 0:45:05
4. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernnacchini (Subaru Impreza) 0:46:11
5. Michael O’Brien/Patrick Walsh (Ford Focus WRC) 0:46:53
6. Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster (Subaru Impreza) 0:47:37
7. Thomas Naughton/Horace Saville (Mitsubishi Evo9) 0:47:42
8. Tim Pearcey/Robin Hernaman (Mitsubishi Lancer) 0:47:47
9. Ieuan Rowlands/Kelvin Savage (Ford Escort) 0:47:57
10. Nigel Griffiths/Josh Burton (Subaru Impreza) 0:48:09

Picture of Steve Perez in action, courtesy of www.cmwi..net.

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