LOCAL crews have made a solid start to the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.

Welland's Robert Ceen, driving a Subaru Impreza partnered by Alistair Douglas, was placed 39th earlier today -- 30th in class A8.

Theo Bengry, from Leominster, began today's seven special stages lying 48th overall, 34th in Class A8, in his Subaru with Les Forsbrook, from Dilwyn.

Leominster navigator Bryan Thomas lies 13th in the Ford Focus RS WRC driven by the Isle of Man's Mark Higgins while Much Marcle co-driver Michael Park, sitting alongside Estonia's Markko Martin (Subaru) was eighth equal.

The 1,000-mile, four-day event roared in to action last night when the capacity 120-car field raced over a 1.5-mile purpose-built rallysprint stage in Cardiff's docklands area.

Colin McRae's dream of regaining the world rally title looked to be left in tatters this morning when he crashed out.

The 33-year-old Scot's challenge came to end 10 minutes into the third stage of the day -- and the fourth of the rally -- when his Ford Focus barrel-rolled into a ditch in the Welsh forests.

McRae's retirement, following Tommi Makinen's accident earlier in the day, leaves England's Richard Burns the clear favourite to become world champion on Sunday.

Burns just needs to finish fourth to snatch the crown by one point from McRae, who must now hope his rival fails to finish.