A BUDDING rally driver had his first competitive experience behind the wheel, with his mother as co-driver.

Leominster youngster Dan Petrie had an excellent rally debut behind the wheel of the family run Peugeot 106 on last weekends Phoenix Stages held at Fulbeck airfield near Newark in Nottinghamshire.

Petrie finished 16th overall and third in class with mum Michelle in the co-driving seat, she also picked up the top lady co-driver award.

Dan who has spent the last few years in the co-driving seat, navigating for a variety of drivers including dad John, got behind the wheel with his father relegated to the spanners on the event.

The Eastwood and District Motor Club event was a round of the EMAMC and ANEMMC and attracted a quality entry of 65 cars, for the eight stages and 45 miles on offer.

The duo had a fairly trouble free day in the CUK, Andrew Bowen Transport, Rallyrides backed car apart from catching slower cars all day, and needing a new set of brake pads before the final two seven-mile tests.

His mum Michelle said: "Dan drove really well given it was his first event driving, it's a shame we kept catching cars, as it cost us a fair chunk of time during the day. "He was very pleased to finish third in class, there is another event here in October, and rumour is Dan will have to co-drive for me then."

The overall event winners were Arron Newby and John Cope in the Teg Sport Subaru Impreza.