by Geoff Mayes
Stephen Petch Junior heads to the world renowned Greystokes Forest in Cumbria this weekend as the 23-year-old contests the inaugural Greystokes Stages.
Petch Jr, who is contesting the full Gravel Rally Championship in 2008, at the wheel of a SG Petch Motorsport-run Hyundai Accent World Rally Car, will, this weekend, resort to using the Production class Mitsubishi Evo 9 with which he took the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge Junior title in 2007.
The purpose of his entry is twofold, not only does it allow the enthusiastic rally driver the chance to support a new event but it is also the ideal opportunity for a bit of practice ahead of his next championship round, the Swansea Bay Rally, next weekend.
“We don't get too much opportunity to use the Greystokes Forests these days but obviously they used to form a part of the old RAC Rally and so this will be a great experience for me,” said Petch.
“As the Swansea Bay Rally is only a week away we decided it would be unwise to use the Hyundai and so I'm back in the Evo. Oh, and as the rally is on maps rather than pacenotes it should give Michael, my co-driver, a bit more work to do in the car!”
Petch Jr and co-driver Michael Wilkinson are seeded at Car #1 for this weekend rally, which consists of 34 stage miles run solely within the Greystokes Forests. The first car is due to start shortly after 9am, with the rally ending at around 4pm [all times local].
![Stephen Petch Junior / Michael Wilkinson. Hyundai Accent. Severn Valley Rally. May 2008. [Pic credit: Geoff Mayes Media - www.geoffmayesmedia.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/449564.jpg)
