Paul Blanchard is celebrating this week after claiming a unique double in the SD34 Stage Championship.

For the Nelson rallyman has won his class as a driver – as well as the overall co-driver’s title.

Blanchard, who works as a sales manager, had already sewn up the drivers title after claiming maximum points on the Hall Trophy Rally in September.

But finishing last weekend’s Neil Howard Stages alongside Michael Judson, also from Nelson, was enough to take the overall co-driver’s award.

“I’m really pleased, I’ve been told by the organisers that it’s never been done before," said a delighted Blanchard, who started out in the sport eight years ago.

“I didn’t set out to win both titles, it just happened almost by accident. We didn’t get the season off to a great start when I blew the engine of my Nissan Micra on the North West Stages and missed the next three rounds.

“Michael then asked me if I’d like to navigate for him and then the season just took off. I sat in with him on the Lee Holland Stages at Anglesey and did well, then got the new engine fitted for my Micra and got maximum points first time out on the Pendragon Stages.

“After clinching the drivers title at Weeton, all I needed to do was finish last weekend’s Neil Howard Stages.”

However, heavy snow and freezing conditions at the Melbourne Airfield near York made the going difficult for all the crews.

“We got off to a good start, finishing the first stage in 18th place after starting at car 71,” he explained.

“But after that it just went downhill! We had lots of problems with Michael’s Vauxhall Astra, culminating in a gearbox that would only select first and second. In the end we just crawled round to finish last, but we got the points needed.”

Although it was his last event of the year, Blanchard is aiming even higher next year.

“I want to go one better and win both the overall driver’s and co-driver’s champ-ionships.

“I’m rebuilding the Micra over winter and then plan on doing six rounds behind the wheel and the rest as a co-driver. It won’t be easy, but I like a challenge!”

The SD34 Group was founded in 1964 to help promote co-operation between the motorsport clubs of the northwest and took its name from the fact that the founding clubs were all based in the area of the SD34 group of Ordnance Survey maps. It now comprises all the major motor clubs in Lancashire.

l Paul Blanchard would like to thank sponsor Whitegate Motors of Padiham, navigator Derek Lewin and driver Michael Judson.