The adventure started at 9:01am sharply and who could expect such a turnout of events! The competition was there and it wasn't about to joke around. All the boys were ready to maul one another in the stages, before counting down the bottles of beers which feel singularly stage after stage to be later enjoyed in a celebrating frenzy shared by most, and the action was about to begin.

Rolling to the first stage I could feel the nerves kicking in, maybe due to the fact that lately I haven't contested many stages due to the nightmares which have overwhelmed my machinery, or maybe because it was "Rally Time", something which had been missing in both my and Max's life for a bit. As Max and I shared a few jokes, sooner than later I clicked in to "5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. GO!!" - and oooohh did she GO! The "Launch Control" on the Focus was wukking! I remember Max hollering for something, which may not be rated enough for all audiences, to the feeling of his head snapping back into the seat at such rapid force!

The stages were insane - no grip almost anywhere and I could hear a few "Easy… Uh-Uh…. and maybe even "This might hurt…"" coming from my co-pilot from time to time, on how sideways and close to the various obstacles the Focus would reach - to which of course, to the hopeful pleasure of some, the Focus had to be stepped FULL sideways through the S's in Dark Hole (our only Tropical Ice Stage!).

….. And then it began once more - just as I had started to settle and started to think that I would actually maybe come close to finishing a rally at last, the bad luck struck again! In the middle of SS3 my 4th gear almost went, and by SS4 there wasn't even a chance that she would work. We analyzed the problem and decided that we could continue, but it would mean that I could sequentially shift up to 3rd gear, dip the clutch, by-pass 4th and head onto 5th and then sequential to 6th. This would require extra concentration, but it could possibly have been done.

We finished the 1st Route by returning to Vaulcluse for Lunch, and was informed that I had been leading for the whole route, stage after stage, picking up a few stage wins along the way - I said to myself…. "not bad… maybe this can continue".

Determined to continue the trend, we headed for the 2nd and final route along with our still missing 4th gear. SS7 had been cancelled (not a favorite anyhow!) and we headed to SS8, and further to SS9 where I decided to give it all. The level of concentration was so intense that crossing the finish line on SS9, I remember shouting over the intercom "Now that is ******* commitment!" - the result…. 2 secs faster than my closest rival.

Having now a lead of about 11 secs to my closest rival, the pressure started to build, and unfortunately it was time for SS10 (the non-favourite). At the end of the stage my lead had diminished back to 8 secs and I started to doubt my chances of glory…. And then bad luck decided to pay another visit! On SS11 I now lost 5th gear altogether which meant that I was left to compete the last stage of the day, with now roughly 7 secs lead on a sequentially available 1,2,3 and a clutch by-pass on 4th & 5th leading to 6th. We had a brief chat before the stage and Max informed me that we would have to pull a 2:16.00 or better to win - the concentration built, the determination grew fonder and the question pondered "Can I do this?" - and 3… 2… 1… GO!! Everything above a 4th gear corner had now to be turned to a 6th gear corner, whether on or off the loud pedal. Through the first series of fast corners it was quite all right, but soon after the bridge and leading into the continuous rights and lefts, the car was so sideways that up to now I don't understand how we didn't go off the road! Out of those corners I saw a marshal raising a Yellow Flag and found Paul Bourne cleanly pulled off the road (out of gas… not very lucky himself I guess). I knew at this point he wasn't going to be a contender for the win, but at that point in time Manning was my biggest rival and he was behind me!

As I flew past the S's in Orange Hill and above the cress leaving to the long stretch before the last two corners I said to Max "We nearly there boy.." to which the emotion erupted from him "Go boy Rog! We can do it!" - 2nd to last corner 2:07….last corner 2:10… Finish! - 2:12….. WINNERS!

What a day - I'm sure you can agree with me!!! I would like to thank my sponsors McEnearney Quality Motors Inc and M&M Racing for supporting me this year. I would also like to thank all the marshals for coming out and supporting our event - your help is always appreciated. Also Rally Timing for an extremely well resulted event and the BRC for a flawlessly ran rally.

Rally Barbados - here we come……..