by Geoff Mayes
A week after minor mechanical gremlins halted his son's strong run on the Rallye Sunseeker, Steve Petch Senior was out in action on the Malcolm Wilson Rally using the opportunity to fine tune the set-up on the SG Petch Motorsport-run Hyundai Accent World Rally Car.
Tricky conditions throughout the opening loop did not help matters but the retired rallying ace was happy with his times as the day progressed, even though he was unable to match the pace at the front of the field.
“Today was all about having a bit of a blast in the car, and using the Malcolm Wilson Rally as a shakedown for the Hyundai,” he explained.
“The pace at the front was pretty rapid, but I know the car can match those boys - there is just no point in chasing them and risking going off. By the end of the rally I was happy with the settings and as we brought the car back in one piece all the lads are smiling, so that's a result.”
The Malcolm Wilson Rally took in some of the famous stages of the area, including Grizedale and Greystokes, and by the end of the day Petch Sr, co-driven by John Richardson, was lying 9th in class.
The SG Petch Motorsport team will be back in action on the Border Counties Rally in early April, when Stephen Junior retakes the reigns for the second round of the MSA Pirelli Gravel Rally Championship.
![Steve Petch Senior. Malcolm Wilson Rally. March 1 2008. [PIC CREDIT: Geoff Mayes Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/412996.jpg)
