Southern Daily Echo journalist Alyson Marlow has returned from France after an action-packed trip rally driving.

The deputy business and motoring editor recently teamed up with Canadian Rally Champion Pat Richard, and the pair took part in the penultimate round of the Peugeot 206 Super Cup in France as the series headed overseas for the Rallye Le Touquet.

At one stage the pair were 14th overall against tough competition from the French but their success was mixed with a series of setbacks.

After a steady run through the night time stages on Friday evening the rally headed north with the crew looking forward to a clean run.

But a slippy corner caught out the pair who damaged the front of a car on a chicane before, on one of the rally’s longest stages, spending 10 minutes in someone’s back garden.

Alyson said: “We were stuck fast on a hedge but there was no way the spectators could lift the car out so with the encouragement of the marshals and house owner we went through the garden to rejoin the stage.”

“Then towards the end of the stage things got even worse when we lost a wheel and all the brake which was a little scary.”

The pair had to manhandle the car onto the jack to get the spare wheel onto the front hub and drive a long road section with no brakes, but managed to arrive with no penalty.

Alyson said: “We lost so much time we were almost at the back of the field at the end of the second of three days. But every time we got into service the crew managed to repair everything in record time. They deserve a medal.”

The final day of competition provided no let-up with the pair electing for slicks in a sunny service area before tackling a 30km stage 10 minutes later in pouring rain.

And on the very next stage the pair entertained spectators on two wheels around a hairpin before limping through the final stage with suspension damage.

Alyson said: “It was such a relief to finally get to the end. There were a few times when that was doubtful but we finished 8th Peugeot overall and won the 206 Spirit of the Rally Award.”

The final round of the series is based in Hampshire on the Michelin South of England Tempest stages which takes place on October 26 and 27 based in Aldershot.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]