Steve Perez delivered a solid performance on the Roger Albert Clark rally last weekend, finishing 17th overall after luck worked against him, despite his best efforts in the snow.
The Kick Energy driver battled through the various weather conditions the North of the country had to offer. He did so in the iconic Lancia Stratos, which was a moving gallery of those who had donated to the fund setup by Perez, to aid the family of a fellow driver, Martyn Lewis, who was tragically killed in competition earlier this year.
Friday evening’s stages were set in Yoirkshire, and Perez managed to end the night third, but an intervention with a snow bank on the Saturday saw him fall considerably back , after some ten minutes were taken up freeing the car.
The fightback began on the Hamsterley and Kielder stages, and then continued into Sunday as the rally moved further North into Scotland.
Disaster struck, as a puncture halted the progress of Perez, and he eventually finished 17th at the Carlisle finish.
Perez and co-driver Paul Spooner fought the conditions throughout, and delivered a performance of grit and determination, one that Martyn Lewis would have loved to have seen.
Speaking after the rally, Perez said “That can only be described as a great white adventure and after three days and one night of virtually non stop driving, it’s been very tough so I’m delighted to make the finish. The car ran like a Swiss watch all weekend, I thought I was in a VW so thanks to Tim Ashton at BTR. The only problems we had were the puncture at the end and me putting it off the road on Saturday and I must say thanks to Ryan Champion and his mates for helping us get the car out! We had to keep going for the fans and marshals who were wonderful as ever, and thanks to those who made donations, but my heartfelt thanks have to go to the organisers for doing an amazing job in impossible conditions. They are the real stars of the rally for me”.
