Indian driver S D Roy made a successful debut at international level as he completed a tough Wales Rally GB (29 November – 2 December) on Sunday.

Milton Keynes-based Roy and Wisbech co-driver Magnus came home 86th overall in their Creative Media (CMCL) prepared 1400cc MG ZR after three days of action across the forest gravel stages in South Wales.

The first leg on Friday started off well for the pair with the exception of a minor problem with the brakes. As the weather conditions worsened in the afternoon and early evening, throwing up torrential rain and fog, the crew only tackled one stage after two were cancelled and managed to pick-up a puncture on a non-competitive run through one of the tests.

The weather improved on Saturday but Roy and Magnus struggled with the pace a little as they were on the wrong tyres but built up confidence and made it through to contest the super-special spectator stage at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The final leg on Sunday threw up its fair share of woe as the crew survived a spin in the first stage before having a small off in the second. Disaster then struck at the eleventh hour when a mile and a half from the end of the last stage the car expired with a fuelling problem in the ecu (engine control unit) and they had to finish the event under SupeRally rules.

“I can’t believe the only major problem we had was at the very last minute and we had to finish under SupeRally rules,” Calcutta-born Roy said. “But at least we finished and got a result, I’m happy with that. I am also happy that Brad is not disappointed as he was desperately looking for a finish on this event. He was very helpful throughout and I am very thankful to him for all his help.  I would also like to thank to Peter Martin who did the two-day recce with me since Brad could not make it. 

“I enjoyed most of the rally, it was really good fun and the most important thing is that we did finish. It was so frustrating that the problem struck when it did but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I’m now looking forward to next season.

“I’d like to thank my team-mates on the event – Luke Pinder and Martin Taylor – for their help throughout the weekend and for helping us change a puncture. I’d also like to thank fellow driver Matt Beebe for lending me some race gloves after my own gloves failed scrutineering and CMCL for running and preparing the car, which ran extremely well throughout the event until the problem happened in the last stage. A huge thanks goes to all the support and service crews for their help in such weather conditions with the torrential rain and wind.”

Wales Rally GB, the final round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), was Roy and Magnus’ last rally for the 2007 season.