MILLHEAD'S Ian Joel and Graeme Wood were glad to see the back of the Sunday Spectator Stages on this years Network Q Rally.

Although they only accounted for 36.7 stage miles out of a total of 242 competitive miles, they are not to be treated with contempt as McRae's team mate Kenneth Ericson found out when his Subaru developed a terminal problem on the first stage.

Hoping to beat their 15th overall on last year's event, the Chris Allen supported team had problems with the Escort Cosworth 4x4 shearing bolts on the underside of the car. This dropped them from their start position of 56th to 84th overnight on Sunday.

Monday got off to a good start as the adrenaline was definitely flowing in a determined attempt to make up places and by the end of the day after two cancelled stages, one due to an accident, they went to bed in 53rd place.

This was Ian and Graeme's fourth RAC, although with all the mileage concentrated in the Mid and South Wales area, there was no advantage to be had by knowing the usual Keilder and Grizedale sections.

As they returned to the Rally's new headquarters at Cheltenham Racecourse the Carnforth team finished in 36th place, having made up nearly 50 places on Sunday's position.

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