AFTER two maximum scores, two second places and a third overall 1999 looks as though it could be a good year for Ian Joel's rally aspirations.

Second on Saturday's Red Dragon Rally in South Wales allowed Joel and co-driver Graeme Wood from Carnforth to take maximum points, as Andy Burton and the Peugeot 306R4 who finished first overall aren't' registered for the British Trail and Rally Drivers' Association Series. The Chris Allen/Silkolene supported Escort Cosworth 4x4 romped home over 16 seconds ahead of third place Clitheroe based John Thompson in a similar Escort, despite losing the brakes a fifth of the way into the final stage when a brake pipe snapped.

This weekend's result leaves the local crew in third place in the National Series in which only the best six scores count towards the title. This means Joel/Wood need a good result on next month's Dukeries event to replace their non-finish on the Malcolm Wilson Rally in March and another score higher than the third place they took on the Plains and they should be home and dry.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.