Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez scored his second successive podium with a battling third place in today's Pirelli Tour of Cumbria which comprised the third round of the 2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship.

Driving the Ford Focus WRC along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, the pair were tackling the infamous Kielder stages once more and at the first service halt held second place overall behind defending ANCRO Champion Marcus Dodd.

Keen to secure important points to maintain his title bid the Chesterfield driver brought the new Kick Energy drink branded car home without any problems in a safe third place but such was the intensity of the competition that he finished just ten seconds behind eventual winner Dodd and five behind second placed driver Paul Bird.

"Once again it was so close at the top and I have to say well done to both Marcus and Paul today as they drove really well. I'm happy enough with a podium and we had no major problems with the car other than hitting a chicane late on so there's nothing to report really. It took me a while to get used to driving the car again as I've spent a lot of time in my Lancia Stratos recently so maybe that had an effect on me."

Perez will next be in Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship action on the Manx Telecom Rally which takes place on the Isle of Man on 8th/9th May.

Results
1, Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery - Hyundai Accent WRC - 0:49:45.2
2, Paul Bird/Ian Windress - Ford Focus WRC07 - 0:49:49.8
3, Steve Perez/Paul Spooner - Ford Focus WRC07 - 0:49:55.5
4, Simon Hughes/Craig Parry - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 - 0:51:07.8
5, Daniel Barry/Martin Brady - Mitsubishi Lancer - 0:51:44.7
6, Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew - Mitsubishi Evo9 - 0:52:06.4
7, Owen Murphy/Dai Roberts - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9  0:53:32.7
8, Steve Bannister/Louise Sutherland - Ford Escort II - 0:56:00.7
9, Jeff McNeil/Fred Roberts - Subaru Impreza - 0:56:25.7
10, Harry Dodd/Richard Skinner - Hyundai Accent WRC - 0:56:41.5

Championship Positions (Provisional)
1, Daniel Barry - 59pts
2, Simon Hughes - 57pts
3, Marcus Dodd - 51pts
4, Nik Elsmore - 49pts
5, Owen Murphy - 47pts
6, Alan Cookson - 45pts
7, Alan Carmichael - 43pts
=, Steve Perez - 43pts
=, Paul Bird - 43pts
10, Sean Devine - 25ptsResults