DAVID Bateson's dream debut on the Network Rally of Great Britain turned into a nightmare when he was forced to retire in sight of a unique victory.

Bateson, 22, from Barrowford and co-driver Daniel Barritt, 20, from Hapton, looked set to clinch the N1 class -- for production cars up to 1400cc -- after setting a string of fastest times in the Welsh forests

But their hopes were cruelly dashed just six stages from the finish when, with an amazing 34 minute lead over their nearest rivals, the steering broke on their Volkswagen Polo.

"We were comfortably quickest in class on each of the first 10 stages and the advantage we had is the sort of lead drivers dream about," said Barritt.

"But it all went wrong on stage 11 at Resolfen. It was really rough, very badly cut up by the cars ahead of us in the rally, and we hit a pot-hole which badly damaged the steering and the suspension.

"We knew straight away we were in trouble. The steering arm had sheared away, leaving the front wheel at 90 degrees to the body, and although we tried to limp on to the end, the driveshaft broke and that was that.

"It was a huge disappointment to us, but I suppose we can take some encouragement. We learnt a lot about ourselves and the car over the five days which will benefit us next season."

For East Lancashire's two other finishers, Alistair Ginley and Clive Molyneux, the finish ramp in Cardiff city centre provided welcome relief from a formidable event, run in torrential rain for most of the three days. Ginley, from Rufforth, finished 44th overall and 18th in class despite suffering a multitude of problems on his Subaru Impreza, prepared by Boland Motorsport of Barnoldswick.

Trouble started on stage 10, Rheola 1, when Ginley and co-driver Greg Haynes lost time with a rear puncture. Deciding to press on without changing the flat, the flailing tyre eventually removed the rear bumper by the end of the 20 mile test.

The following stage in Resolfen saw the pair lose 22 minutes with the gearbox stuck in fourth gear, and another 10 minutes were dropped in Rheola 2 when the exhaust fell off.

Even a broken turbo pipe in Margam, the final stage on leg two, failed to dent the driver's good humour: "The car sounds just like a tractor, and the way we are going we'll need one to get out of here!" he joked.

Experienced navigator Clive Molyneux is no stranger to the Network Q Rally, after partnering Blackburn's Nigel Worswick to a brilliant 11th overall in his Ford Sierra Cosworth in 1996.

This year, the Great Harwood-based mapman teamed up with former RED boss Geoff Fielding in his brand new Ford Escort Cosworth.

Seeded at car 132, the pair steadily climbed up the leaderboard to finish 56th overall and 26th in class.

Their only scare came three stages from the end when they ploughed off the road after the engine throttle stuck open.

"We were well down the field so it wasn't easy getting through the stages, " he explained.

"They were really rough by the time we arrived, and in some places it was just a question of clinging on to the track. In the circumstances, Geoff did a really good job in making up 76 places."

Picture: David Bateson and Daniel Barritt fling their Volkswagen Polo through the Welsh stages as they build up a 34 minute lead . . . before disaster strikes when they hit a pot-hole. Picture: ANDY FARNWORTH