by Geoff Mayes
Jason Pritchard drove through the pain barrier on last weekends
Jim Clark International Rally to score sixth place points in the C2R2cup just six weeks after smashing his right foot in a non-rallying related accident.
Pritchard, who is co-driven by George Gwynn in the little North Road Garage backed Citroen C2R2, only received the all clear from his doctor five days before the rally began, and had to rely on crutches to help him around the service park.
Despite the obvious pain Pritchard was more than happy to be back in a rally car and drove sensibly, gradually raising his pace throughout the rally so that, by the end, he was setting top three times.
A faulty oil temperature sensor and throttle problems hampered the young British Rally Elite member on Saturday afternoon, forcing him to stop and try and restore the car to full health mid stage before eventually super rallying overnight to ensure the car was properly fettled ahead of Sunday's stages.
My foot is really sore at the moment, but at least I have got some championship points on the board, Pritchard said. It was good to get back out in the car which, apart from the throttle problems, ran perfectly, so a big thank you to Quick Motorsport for preparing her. This was the first rally for George and I and we got on really well in the car.
Pritchard and Gwynn will next be in action at the Rally Show at Chatsworth in two weeks time before contesting the third round of the 2008 British Rally Championship, the Rally Isle of Man in July. During this period Pritchard will focus on bringing his damaged foot back to full strength.
