DANIEL Barritt and Steve Perez have made an encouraging start to their new rally partnership by finishing fourth overall on the Pirelli International.

The pair enjoyed a virtually trouble-free run on the opening round of the British Championship, finishing just under five minutes behind eventual winners David Higgins and Chris Wood.

"I'm very happy with result. All I wanted to do was get Steve to the finish without any major dramas," said Daniel, who lives in Hapton.

The two-day event saw Barritt and Perez get off to a steady start at the opening stage in Gateshead, and despite catching another competing car on the next test, the pair were happy to be fifth overall at the overnight halt.

A concerted effort in the legendary Kielder Forest saw them claw their way up to fourth, fending off the challenge of fellow Focus WRC driver Matthew Wilson - son of Ford's rally boss Malcolm Wilson - and the Subaru Impreza of Barry Johnson.

"It took a couple of stages to get used to a new system of reading the pacenotes," explained Daniel.

"Steve likes to hear the notes early, and the way of describing the severity of corners, by using the numbers from one to six, with six being the fastest is the complete reverse of the way I called the notes last year.

"But just as importantly, we seemed to get on alright in the car, so hopefully I can help push him on a bit this season."

After being left high and dry by Mitsubishi USA's decision to pull out of rallying late last year - after he had won the American championship outright with driver David Higgins - Barritt looked set for a season on the sidelines.

But a chance meeting with Perez, who sponsors Burnley FC through his Vodka Kick drinks company, put the highly-rated young navigator back on the rallying scene.

The Chesterfield-based businessman had been contesting three major rally championships this year, but with two different co-drivers, Neil Dashfield and Richard Pulleyn.

With neither able to commit to all the rounds, Perez decided, for reasons of consistency, to opt for just one navigator - Barritt.

The pair will also contest the ANCRO Championship -acknowledged as the best clubmans championship in Britain - starting with the Roush Manx Rally later this month.