On his first event in his new N15-specification Subaru Impreza, Saltash rally driver Alan Cookson emerged from today's Coppermines Grizedale Stages rally with a superb seventh place despite a problem late on with a puncture.

Along with Tunbridge Wells co-driver Julian Wilkinson, the Robert Wiseman Dairies, Speedline Wheels, Kick Energy, GillettsSpar.com, Riverside Property Services and Olverelectrical.com supported and TEGSport prepared Subaru performed faultlessly.

Preparing for a concerted assault on the 2010 British Rally Championship, Cookson, who has lost over six stones in a year as part of his bid, was using the event as a test and despite it being over twenty years since he last contested the event and getting used to left hand drive, he made a steady start and by SS4, held a fine 8th place.

Cookson attacked the last two stages but on the penultimate stage in Grizedale South, he clattered a rock around two miles from the end of the stage which punctured the tyre and bent the bottom arm which resulted in a steady run through the final stage whereby he clinched 7th overall and 2nd in class at the Coniston finish.

"I'm absolutely delighted with our progress today and to cap it all off with a decent result, although it feels like I've been in a wrestling match with someone! Everything is different and it's just a case of getting used to it as the first time I'd sat in the car was on the way to the start this morning. We're planning a major attack on the BRC this year, and will do a couple of Irish rounds too, and all this is part of our preparations so we've ticked another box and now need some more time in the car so we'll get a couple of tests in and make some more progress. Thanks to all of our sponsors especially Robert Wiseman Dairies and Speedline Wheels this weekend, and of course to Stuart Newby and the team at TEGSport," said Alan.

Results

1, Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick (Ford Focus WRC 07) 46m 27s
2, Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster (Subaru Impreza) 48:14
3, Michael O'Brien/Patrick Walsh (Ford Focus WRC) 48:24
4, Tristan Pye/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza) 49:29
5, Steve Petch/John Richardson (Mitsubishi Lancer) 50:09
6, Paul Cooke/Barry McNulty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 50:34
7, Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson (Subaru Impreza N15) 51:05
8, Gary Tomlinson/Nick Fieldhouse (Subaru Impreza GC8) 51:05
9, Mark Donnelly/John Rowan (Ford Fiesta ST) 51:12
10, Eddie O'Donnell Jnr/Eddie O'Donnell Snr (Ford Escort) 51:15