RALLYMAN Dan Boardman won a race against time to score his first points in the inugural Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy.

The 26-year-old Ribchester driver built his brand new car from a bare shell in just three weeks to finish eighth in class on the Malcolm Wilson Rally.

Although two punctures on successive stages left him deflated and out of contention for a top five finish Boardman was still content with his performance.

"Overall, I am happy, but I'm slightly disappointed with the unpredictable punctures," he said. "Our times on the stages where we got a clean run show what we are capable of."

Held in the forests around the Lake District, the Malcolm Wilson used famous stages such as Grizedale and Greystoke, host of many epic RAC Rally battles from the 1960s and 70s.

Freezing temperatures and a light scattering of snow caused problems for many crews, including Boardman and new co-driver Scott Cleverdon.

A half spin on the opening stage and a blown engine cooling fan cost time, before the time-consuming double punctures and stages five and six.

Fifth in class at one point, the delays cost Boardman, who works as a design engineer, over three minutes.

"It was a bare shell only three weeks ago and was only finished an hour before scrutineering started, so we chose to set a steady pace at the start in order to learn the characteristics of the car.

"My confidence gradually increased and we climbed up into the points and we even managed to beat our team boss Chris Moore, who was in a similar car, on two stages!" said Dan, who got the drive as part of the Innovation Motorsports Scholarship.

"I think we showed that we can be up there with the front runners in what will be a highly-competive championship.

"Our low seeding meant that we had to cope with loose boulders and deep ruts on the stages, carved up by the more powerful four-wheel-drive machinery ahead of us.

"But we achieved our objectives, which was to finish and get some points in the bag - the £75 cheque we got from Ford's World Rally team boss Malcolm Wilson was definitely a bonus!"

l Boardman is sponsored by Innovation Motorsports; Lancashire Salvage, Blackburn; Rossall School, Fleetwood; Autobreakers, Total Fitness, www.physicalpeak.co.uk and ATS, all Preston and Motorgas Conversions, Accrington, who supplied the chase car and personnel to look after his Fiesta throughout this event.

The next round of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy is the Carlisle-based Pirelli Rally on May 14.