An excursion into a ditch cost Terry Martin any chance of a top three finish on the UTS Shaw Trophy Rally.

Martin, from Blackburn, and navigator Jerry Hettrick were on course for a good result after cleaning the first section of the event, based in Northumberland.

But it all went wrong 20 yards from the first time control on section two when his Peuegot 205GTi went off on a 90-degree left-hander.

A competing car stopped to tow them out but the four-minute delay dropped them down to an unlucky 13th place at the first petrol halt.

A storming drive on the last section saw Martin running first on the road, posting second fastest time on the 10-mile section through Harwood forest, before finally finishing 11th.

As the opening round of the 2006 SD34 Road Rally Championship, the UTS Shaw Trophy attracted ten registered contenders - and all made it to the finish.

Dan Willan and Paul Allen won the semi-experts class on their way to second overall behind winners Stan Featherstone / Mike Ogram.

And former SD34 winners Jon Lawson and Chris Pringle emerged from a two-year lay-off to finish third overall.

Pendle DMC pair Bill Chadwick and Alan Edwards claimed eighth overall, with Kris and Steve Coombes two places behind. Colne pet shop owner Pete Jagger teamed up with Clitheroe DMC member Jason Crook to finish 17th overall.

l Next round of the championship is the North Yorkshire-based Ryemoor Trophy, organised by Malton DMC on March 18-19.