The opening round of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, Rallye Sunseeker based in Bournemouth on Friday and Saturday 22/23rd February saw John Lloyd and Adrian Cavenagh take second in class in their Ford Focus WRC. Team mates Andrew Barnes and Neil Dashfield who had a brilliant start to the event recording a second fastest time on the Friday night spectator stage did not qualify as a finisher although they completed all the stages and were lying 17th overall and second in class when the hydraulic pipe on the gearbox blew, oil went on the exhaust and the car caught fire.

"I had a slow start but was pleased with my overall pace, I was getting quicker throughout the event. I was seventh fastest on the penultimate stage and sixth fastest on the final stage, finishing 12th overall and second in class. I am now looking forward to the Malcolm Wilson Rally this weekend. This will be the first time I have rallied on these classic stages in the Lake District and I am confident we will be on the pace from the start", said John Lloyd

Neil Dashfield co-driver to Andrew Barnes reflected, "It is such a disappointment to retire within site of the finish and a credible 2nd in class. Andrew drove brilliantly to be is such a position and to have the fire at the end of the last stage was the wrong kind of excitement. On a positive note the stages times were great and Andrew secured his first top 3 stage time on the Friday night stages, with a second fastest overall, very impressive."

This weekends Malcolm Wilson Rally is based at M Sport and qualifies for the BTRDA Rally Championship