Alan Cookson and co-driver Julian Wilkinson will return to action in the final round of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship when they contest next the Bulldog Rally next Saturday.
The crew head into the event fresh from success on the penultimate round, the Trackrod National Rally, just over a week ago where they finished an impressive eighth overall and third in class, and are now looking for more of the same when they return to the wheel of their GillettsSpar.com, Robert Wiseman Dairies, VK Vodka Kick, Kumho Tyres and Riverside Property Services supported Subaru Impreza World Rally Car.
It has been a mixed season for the duo as they have adapted to life in their new Impreza WRC machinery following the step up from Group N.
They have been unlucky on several occasions starting with the opening round, the Rallye Sunseeker, when they crashed out due to a mechanical fault whilst occupying a top ten place and further frustration came when a part failure cost them a top ten finish on the RBS International Manx Rally in May.
The pair have never contested the Oswestry-based Bulldog Rally before but after a faultless run in North Yorkshire last time out with times consistently inside the top ten and the car on form, they are aiming to end their National Gravel Championship campaign on a high.
“The real target is again to finish in the top ten after getting a taste of it on the Trackrod but to be honest we will be happy just to cross the finish line on what will be the last event of the year for us,” Cookson said.
“The car ran really well on the Trackrod and only required TEG Sport to do basic re-prep work to ready it for the Bulldog, which has meant the guys have had time to make some more improvements on the car.
“I've never really been so relaxed in the lead up to an event this year and I'm hoping for a good run, especially as Julian and I will be less rusty in the car after only a three-week gap since the Trackrod.
![Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson [Pic credit: 6th Gear PR]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/496921.jpg)
