Disappointing weekend for Wilkinson

9:02am Tuesday 13th May 2008

Cornwall driver Alan Cookson and Wandsworth co-driver Julian Wilkinson had a disappointing weekend on the RBS International Manx Rally, failing to finish due to a mechanical problem, writes Amanda Cornforth.

Cookson and Wilkinson were enjoying a good run and lying in 25th overall in their SparDevon.com, Robert Wiseman Dairies, VK Vodka Kick, Kumho, Riverside Property Services, Blue International Property, Natural Wood Floor Company and Castle Flooring Services supported Subaru Impreza World Rally Car in round three of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship before the gear linkage broke on stage seven.

Following the first loop of stages on the 120-mile Isle of Man-based tarmac rally on Friday night they were 22nd overall despite having the suspension set a little soft on the first stage, and surviving two spins in stage five, which cost the pair around 25 seconds, dropping them down from an impressive 17th overall after the first four stages, less than 30 seconds from the top 10 spot the pair were hoping for last weekend.

After the opening test on Saturday morning they dropped to 25th after having a brief moment with a bank which caused a bit of damage to the rear of the car before the gear linkage broke in stage seven, and despite their best efforts to fix it on the side of the stage, they were forced to retire from the event.

It is the second time the pair have not finished a round of the championship this season following their retirement on the opening round, the Rallye Sunseeker, in February.

"We're just gutted as we were having a really good run and were really enjoying the fantastic stages," Cookson said.

"We had very few problems throughout the event up until the gear linkage broke and the car was going really well across the tarmac.

"It's disappointing not to finish and collect some more points in the championship but we will look forward now to the next round and take heart from our performance this weekend.

"We're also really grateful to our Isle of Man-based sponsors Montpelier Financial Specialists for their support on the event and to TEG Sport, who did a great job of setting the car up after only seeing it for the first time Friday morning."

Cookson and Wilkinson will be back in action in just three-weeks time when they compete across the gravel of the Builth Wells-based Severn Valley Rally on Saturday, May 31, in round four of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship.

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