Last weekend saw the Pirelli Kwik-Fit British Rally Championship reach its third round, with the Scottish International rally taking place over the classic forests of south-west Scotland.

Team Damage Control crew of Paul Alexander and Mike Panes entered the event in a strong F2000 championship position, and plenty of confidence having previous competed on many of the same gravel stages over the past three seasons. "I really like the Scottish stages" commented Paul at the town centre start ramp, "they are in the best condition that I have ever seen them, and are sure to provide some very fast action - we can't wait to get out there".

However, the team would be returning to Dumfries sooner than expected, when their Prospeed Golf Gti kit car ground to a halt around two miles into the first special stage in Ae forest. In full view of the watching crowd and Channel4 TV cameras, the crew quickly diagnosed that a terminal engine fault could not be rectified, and the earliest retirement of their career beckoned. "Either the flywheel bolts have sheared, or the crankshaft has snapped" Paul told the media crew, "There is certainly nothing we can do now, but retire to the bar and drown our sorrows. To add insult to injury, we've got guests from Rainbow International coming to watch the event tomorrow, and we won't be there - I'm so disappointed for them and the rest of our team".

Back at the Prospeed Motorsport workshop, the diagnosis of sheared flywheel bolts has been confirmed - a freak failure, the type of which the team have never experienced with this car before. "At least the car can be easily prepared for the Jim Clark Rally in July" said Mike, "and we haven't suffered damage that many of the crews did on Saturday. I also know that Paul has been working hard to secure a drive in a 4WD car for some additional events, so we have plenty of reason to remain upbeat".

Team Damage Control's next outing is likely to be at the Jim Clark Memorial Rally, held on closed public roads in the Borders area on July 2nd/3rd.

The team is supported by ISS Damage Control, Rainbow International, Polypipe Civils Ltd, Bill Gwynne Rallyschool International, Coordsport and Yokohama tyres.