SEEDED 32nd out of 90 starters and fifth in a very competitive class hopes were high for the Lancaster Honda rally team at the DRT Charity Stages at the weekend.

The ever-improving David Cox and Chris Thomas started well and, after the first of five long stages at RAD Binbrook, car and driver sat on top of Class Two with an excellent stage time.

When most drivers were feeling their way in slowly, Cox produced a superb drive straight out of the box.

However, the worsening weather and a brake problem dropped the team down to sixth in class after the third stage.

Water was getting into the air intake from the deep puddles around the mixed surface stages and a spin on stage two meant it was all uphill to salvage a result from what was an excellent start.

Stages four and five were much drier but with every driver improving, progress up the field was difficult.

The support team of five turned the car round promptly in all conditions, though, and a spirited drive in the last two stages over-hauled fifth place to give Lancaster Honda another good result.

In three rallies this year Cox and Thomas have finished all of them with very credible results.

The car is now due to have an overhaul by Lancaster Honda's award-winning after sales staff to get ready for its next outing.