Cornwall driver Alan Cookson and London co-driver Julian Wilkinson are targeting a top 10 finish on next Saturday’s (19 July) Swansea Bay National Rally.

Cookson and Wilkinson return to action in round five of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship in their GillettsSpar.com, Robert Wiseman Dairies, VK Vodka Kick, Kumho Tyres and Riverside Property Services supported Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (WRC) following a brief break.

Last time out in the championship on the Severn Valley National Rally in May they finished 18th overall after overcoming a series of problems including a gear linkage issue. 

The crew also contested the Rallyinguk.com Stages Rally at Smeatharpe airfield as a one-off event at the end of June and claimed an impressive victory, which also helped them get to the bottom of the persistent diff problem they have been experiencing this season.

Now the pair want to get back to business and bag the elusive top 10 finish they have been chasing this year in the Gravel Championship on the Swansea-based forest gravel event. 

Last year they were 17th overall in their Group N Subaru Impreza on the Swansea Bay National Rally across stages that were blighted by the torrential rainfall that swept the country.

“The stages were very good last year despite the conditions, and the longer stages suited us, as we tend to go better on stages when you can really get into them, so with only six stages to cover this year, it should be a great day,” Cookson said.

“We want to go for it from the start and try and get the top 10 finish that seems to keep eluding us. We just need to have a good clean run, that is neat and tidy to avoid the dreaded punctures but all going well I think a top 10 finish is doable for us. 

“While we certainly won’t be challenging the front runners on the Swansea Bay, we certainly feel good about our victory the other week and it has certainly got us excited about getting back out in the car and we are hoping we can have a good clean run prior to the long summer break.”

Cookson heads into the Swansea Bay Rally 19th overall in the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship drivers’ standings with Wilkinson 20th in the co-drivers’ table.