Paul Alexander (Kings Langley) and Mike Panes (Cardiff) were robbed of near certain victory on this weekend's Tempest National Rally, when the rear diff on their Mitsubishi Lancer failed whilst holding a lead of around 60 seconds.

The Team Damage Control pairing had signalled their intentions of ending the season on a high by posting fastest stage time around the first spectator stage at Rushmoor Arena, and retained the advantage through stages 2 and 3. Stage 4 saw the crew surrender the lead to former Peugeot works driver Martin Sansom, when they were forced to stop in the stage to allow the WRC Impreza of Phil Morgan to be pushed into retirement with engine failure.

Paul Alexander: "We've not been pushing too hard, as the conditions are really tricky and we don't want to damage the car on what is likely to be our final event this season. However, looking at the stage times, it's clear that the car and its Yokohama tyres are doing well. We've dropped some time with a small overshoot and having to stop whilst Phil's car was pushed clear of the stage, but are confident that we can push for victory now."

After a 20 minute service interval back at Rushmoor, the pairing immediately put the pressure back on Sansom by taking 3.5 seconds off the fellow Mitsubishi driver around the short spectator stage 5. Indeed, such was the pace at the top of the field, that Alexander and Sansom were now almost a minute clear of the third place crew, effectively in a rally of their own. However, all that would change on stage 6.

The fast Stoney Castle stage first claimed Sansom when the Kent driver misjudged the approach to a hairpin and rolled out of the event, heavily damaging his car in the process. Now with a huge advantage to their nearest rivals, the Alexander/Panes pairing simply had to cruise home to take their first outright rally victory. Unfortunately, less than a mile after being relieved of any pressure, the rear differential on Paul's ex-works Mitsubishi Evo VIII failed, leaving the crew to coast to a halt and rue what might have been.

Mike Panes: "Today's events pretty much sums up the bad luck that has plagued our season this year. However, looking in the brighter side, we've been leading the past two events outright, which clearly shows that the new car, the Yokohama tyres and Paul and I are all working well together, and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2005." The team are now working hard to secure support for the 2005 season, where their obvious pace is sure to make them one of the leading crews in the National Rally Championship. Meanwhile, the SRM-Racing Mitsubishi Lancer will undergo a winter development programme in order to improve the teams chances further still. Companies or individuals interested in joining our team should visit www.alexrally.com for more information.

Paul Alexander: "We've secured perhaps half of the budget required for us to contest the National Championship in 2005, so the really hard work of finding more support begins now. I'm confident recent events have demonstrated that we'll be near the front of the field in 2005, and that the exposure this is sure to bring the team will attract the remaining support we require."

In addition to thanking their partners for all their support in 2004, the team would also like to congratulate long-time supporter David Higgins on being crowned 2005 Pirelli Kwik Fit British Rally Champion this weekend.

Team Damage Control is delighted to receive support from:
ISS Damage Control
Rainbow International
Polypipe Civils Limited
Co-ordsport
Bill Gwynne Rallyschool International
Yokohama HPT
Doughty Precision Engineering
Birch Print
Mellors Elliot Motorsport
Shell Racing Fuels
Camsport
David Higgins