Didcot-based co-driver Jonathan Sargeant and his driver Rob Price survived sliding into a ditch to come seventh in their class at the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District.

The second round of the Round 2 of the BTRDA Forest Rally Championship consisted of three stages in the forests complexes of Whinlat-ter, two in Greystoke, and two in Grizedale, before returning for the finish in Cocker-mouth.

After the first three short stages, the team, in their 1400 class Vauxhall Corsa were lying seventh out of 37 starters in their class.

After winning the fourth stage outright, they jumped up to fourth place at halfway.

The first run through Grizedale brought another good time, moving the pair, on only their second rally together, up to third in class.

But disaster was to strike on the penultimate stage.

On a rain-soaked right-hand bend and the car slid off the gravel track and got stuck in a ditch”.

Spectators came to their aid and literally lifted them out.

The grateful duo continued to finish the stage and the rally, but had lost over four minutes and this meant they had slid back down to seventh.

“It could have been easy to be disappointed,” Rob remarked.

“But we were really pleased with the car’s first proper run-out and setting the fastest time on one stage proves we have the potential to win.”