Saltash driver Alan Cookson and London co-driver Julian Wilkinson are aiming to get their Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship season back on track when they contest round four, the Severn Valley National Rally, next Saturday [May 31].
Cookson and Wilkinson will be back in action in their GillettsSpar.com, Robert Wiseman Dairies, VK Vodka Kick, Kumho Tyres and Riverside Property Services supported Subaru Impreza World Rally Car in the Builth Wells-based event and are looking to make amends after failing to finish the previous round, the RBS International Manx Rally, earlier this month.
The crew were forced out of the Isle of Man tarmac event when the gear linkage broke on stage seven leaving them disappointed after they had been up to 17th overall after the first four stages.
It was the second round they have failed to bring home any points in the Gravel Championship following on from their retirement in the opening round in February and now the pair want to add to their score when they return to the gravel following a three-week break for the 65-mile Severn Valley National Rally.
“We will again be going for it from the off. We can no longer afford any slip ups and need to start and record some more points towards the 2008 championship,” Cookson said.
“We were more than happy with the Manx and were on a good pace up until we broke the gear linkage on Saturday morning, and we feel sure we would have gone on to record a good result so we need to take those positives with us to the Severn Valley.
“We're really looking forward to getting back onto gravel as we've always enjoyed it more than tarmac, however, we still feel like we have some unfinished business on tarmac which we will address later in the year. We will certainly have to adjust fast to the fast flowing stages in mid Wales.”
Cookson and Wilkinson have appointed the services of rally preparation company TEG Sport to prep the car for the event, but due to other commitments they will not run the team on the event.
![Alan Cookson / Julian Wilkinson - Subaru Impreza WRC. RBS International Manx Rally. May 2008 [Pic credit: Songasport - www.songasport.co.uk]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/438609.jpg)
