Laukkanen wins spectacular championship opener.

Tuesday, 29th April 2003

For a championship that was supposed to be on its knees, this weekend’s Pirelli British Rally Championship opening round was a remarkably swift and spectacular resuscitation.

After SS7, it was Wilks, Higgins, Laukkanen, Milner, Evans, Stenshorne, with Reynolds having retired at the end of SS6 with a blown turbo. After SS8: Wilks, Higgins - both driving brilliantly - Laukkanen, Milner, Evans, and Kris Meeke, another excellent drive after experiencing various problems. After SS9: Wilks, Laukkanen, Higgins, Milner, Evans and Meeke. After SS10: Laukkanen, Milner, Wilks, Higgins, Evans and Meeke. And at the finish: Laukkanen, Milner, Higgins, Evans - yet another great drive – Meeke, and Thompson.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to give everyone a mention, although Simon Hughes in seventh; Mirco Baldacci in eighth; Dougi Hall in ninth; and Steve Petch in 11th - behind Latvala - in particular deserved one. Those unfortunates who didn’t make it to the line included Steve Hill, Barry Johnson, Martin Stenshorne, Leon Pesticcio, Nik Elsmore, Ryan Champion, Mark l’Anson, Jeremy Nolan, Tim Mason, Ellya Gold, and Kate Heath – all victims of an extremely tough event.

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