Fresh from a two-day corporate function for Rainbow International, the stunning Team Damage Control Mitsubishi Lancer was back in action last weekend, contesting ERO Motorclub's Sweet Lamb Stages Rally.

Held at the renowned mid-Wales testing facility, and in changeable conditions, the rally was intended as a test session to evaluate a new front differential, and to gauge the effectiveness of a new final drive ratio in the gearbox.

Seeded at number five, team driver Paul Alexander and co-driver Mike Panes set off with the intention of taking it steady over the first few stages to get a feel for the new set-up. Setting joint fastest stage time on the opening test was therefore a pleasant surprise, however a small spin cost time on stage two. Despite this, the crew returned to service after the first four stages in second place overall.

At service, the SRM Racing team found a fault in the turbo dump valve, which was preventing the engine's anti-lag system from functioning correctly. Although a spectator kindly offered the loan of his road car unit, the item was found to differ from that on the rally car, and sadly could not be used. A hasty, temporary repair was therefore made, and the team headed out for the second loop of the event with their fingers crossed that the car would last the distance.

The next loop of stages was a repeat of the first, and despite the engine problem re-occurring, the crew regained second place going into service - somewhat aided by the demise of the WRC Escort of Dave Jenkins. The Team Damage Control crew were now forty-eight seconds ahead of third place and just twelve seconds behind leader Tim Freeman in another Mitsubishi with only two stages remaining.

Back in service, the car was quickly restored to full health in readiness for the decisive final loop consisting of a three-mile test within Sweet Lamb, followed by a fifteen-mile stage through the classic Hafren forest complex.

A storming drive through stage nine saw the Team Damage Control Mitsubishi reduce the deficit to the leader by seven seconds - providing Paul's first ever overall fastest stage-time, and setting up a final stage showdown for victory in the process. Unfortunately, the chance of a debut victory for Team Damage Control cruelly slipped away when a front tyre punctured in a particularly rough section of the final Hafren test. Not wishing to hamper following crews with championship aspirations, Paul elected to park up and retire from the rally.

The next event for the Team Damage Control crew is the Trackrod National Rally, based in Malton, Yorkshire on the 2nd of October.

Team Damage Control is extremely grateful for support from:
ISS Damage Control
Rainbow International
Polypipe Civils Limited
Bill Gwynne Rallyschool International
Yokohama HPT
Co-ordsport
Doughty Precision Engineering
Mellors Elliot Motorsport
Shell Racing Fuels