JUST getting to the finish of their first Welsh Road Rally is an achievement for most drivers.

But Paul Buckel went one further when he made his debut on the Rali Gogledd, collecting a trophy for taking third place in the semi-experts class.

It was a great result for Buckel, who lives in Accrington, and his navigator Steve Butler who faced a race against time just to get to the start.

The pair crashed out of the Morecambe Road Rally, leaving them less than a week to rebuild their battered Vauxhall Nova.

“The car needed a new front panel and lights and I had to take a sledgehammer to the front wing,” explained Buckel, who works for Holland’s Pies in Baxenden.

“It didn’t look pretty, but we at least we made it to the start.

“Welsh road rallies enjoy a great reputation, and after contesting the Rali Gogledd, I can see why.

“The route was brilliant, very technical and very demanding, and there were hundreds of specatators out on the night, which made the atmosphere very special.

“After all the problems we had before the rally, we would have been happy get to get round, but to finish third in class and 18th overall felt fantastic.”

The result leaves Buckel leading the semi-experts class in the ANWCC (Association of North West Car Clubs) road rally championship and 10th overall in the drivers standings.