OXFORDSHIRE driver Michael Jenkins has made a fast start to the season, as he leads the English Rally Championship in his class.

The Chilton driver, alongside his wife Alexandra, has teamed up with co-driver Jordan Joines and the Ignition Motorsport team in Newbury.

Jenkins is currently first in class in the English Rally Championship, and eighth overall.

This weekend, he’ll be taking his foot off the gas slightly for a non-championship event closer to home, with the Abingdon Motorsport Car-nival.

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Jenkins said: “As a crew, we’re pretty tight on budget but determined to fight for victory regardless. Sponsorship has been difficult and we’re funding ourselves, but we’re hoping to get some support after a great start to our season.

“At the moment, we’re having to make do with second hand tyres, making them last for multiple events at a time.

“The first round was back in March at the Malcolm Wilson Rally in Cumbria, kicking off the BTRDA Rally Series with a great performance, clinching maximum points and setting the stage for an epic season ahead.

“The following weekend, we made our way to the Rally North Wales in Welshpool to kick off our Welsh Rally Championship season.

“Despite facing challenges like persistent power gremlins and double punctures, our spirits remained undaunted as we raced towards second in our class, gaining valuable points.

Oxford Mail:

“April 13 saw us compete in the Severn Valley Stages based in Builth Wells. This was a round of both championships and also a round of the British Rally Championship.

“It’s really cool to compare times with the country’s best drivers on these overlapping championship events, and a surreal experience for me competing on stages that I spectated on as a child.

“Despite foggy conditions and car troubles we secured a commendable fourth in class.

“Our last event at the Jim Clark Rally was our fourth finish in a row, with stand-in co-driver Eldo Chacko in his first event outside of India, while regular co-driver Jordan was out competing at the Manx Rally.

“A difficult morning building trust in the pacenotes with a new co-driver and a few issues with the rear left brake caliper jamming on two separate occasions left us third in class, but with some good championship points. 

“We’re looking forward to our next event just down the road in Abingdon at the weekend, and my first time ever on tarmac with my wife.

“As a non-championship event, we’re out for some fun before the serious business resumes the following weekend for the Kielder Forest Rally with Jordan back in the hot seat.”