Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez put yesterday's day of mechanical frustration behind him to storm back into contention after a stunning performance on the second leg of the Roger Albert Clark Rally.

With the second loop around Scotland and the Borders today, the Lancia Stratos driver, along with co-driver Kevin Rae, gradually made their way back up the leader board from the 16th position they held at the overnight halt to 7th as the remaining crews arrived back at Carlisle late this evening.

Setting top twelve times on the opening four stages today, the Clay Cross driver upped his pace as the day progressed and by mid-afternoon, despite one or two niggling problems with the Italian machinery, he had climbed to 11th after the first of the Craik stages near Rae's home town of Hawick.

But it was as darkness fell that Perez really started his charge and with string of top eight times in the southern fringes of Kielder to end up in an impressive 7th overall and 2nd in class at the Carlisle Airport service park after another 82 stage miles.

"After yesterday, today has been a lot better and we've suffered no major problems although the car is cutting out in the dark and we did the last stage with only two gears due to having no clutch. The weather has been very mild and the stages are in good condition which has suited the little car. We're still miles off Malcolm (Wilson) in the lead but the aim today was to get inside the top ten and we've done that so now we just need to maintain our speed and our luck and it's possible we can get to the finish. There's a three minute gap to the crew in front of us so it's unlikely we'll get any higher unless anyone drops out now" said Steve.
 
Perez and the remaining crews have another dawn start tomorrow whereby they will tackle the final five stages of the 31 stage event, which provides the sting in the tail with over fifty miles of 'Killer Kielder', including an 18.4 miler in Broomylinn, before the finish in Carlisle on Monday afternoon.

Log onto www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org for further information.

Roger Albert Clark Rally - Interim Results After SS26

1 Malcolm Wilson/John Millington (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) 2hr 46m35s       
2 David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS1600)   + 4.49 
3 Seamus O'Connell/Paul Wakely (Ford Escort Mk2)  + 7:46 
4 Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby (Ford Escort)    + 8.17 
5 Phil Squires/Mick Squires (Ford Escort RS1800)   + 9.32 
6 William Onions/Tim Hobbs (Ford Escort RS1800)  + 12.52 
7 Steve Perez/Kevin Rae (Lancia Stratos)    + 16.01 
8 Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson (Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1)   + 16.08
9 Andrew Siddall/Colin Thompson (Ford Escort RS2000)  + 16.23
10 Reg Britton/Gerry Buckley (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800)    + 16.25