Solid start for Stokes (From Gazette Series)

Solid start for Stokes

DAVID STOKES kicked off his British Historic Championship campaign with a third placed finish in the Alternative Sign Centre Robin Hood Historic Stages, held in the Sherwood Forestry complex.

Day One consisted of three stages held in darkness on Saturday night, with seven more stages on Sunday.

Ice and snow greeted crews on Saturday's opening stages but Stokes, in partnership with new co-driver Guy Weaver, was quickly into his stride, swapping times with Steve Perez in the Lancia Stratos, 2005 champion Steve Smith and early leader Mark Solloway in his RS1600. Stokes and Weaver lay third overnight behind Smith and leader Solloway.

Sub-zero temperatures left Sunday's stages tricky in places but the battle raged all through the day. Stokes was fastest on stages six and nine. With one six-mile stage to go, Stokes and Solloway were level with Smith six seconds behind the leading duo but any hopes of a last gasp victory were dashed when Stokes' Escort slid off and got stuck.

At least 20 seconds were lost, as were all hopes of victory, so third was scant reward for a sterling drive. Victory was Solloway's with Smith nine seconds back in second and Stokes third a further nine behind Smith.

Weaver said: "We're gutted to come so close and then have victory snatched away but that's rallying."

David's younger brother Andrew, who was servicing for David, found himself in the co-driving seat alongside Ernie Graham in his RS1600.

Ernie's co-driver had to return home due to family illness so Andrew volunteered his services, having co-driven for his brother before.

He joked: "As long as we didn't beat our Dave I was okay, otherwise team orders would have been issued."