SIXTY and Worcestershire Motor Club co-driver Matt Pearce joined Michael O'Brien in an excellent finish on the Grizedale stages.

The event was based in the Lake District town of Coniston, famous for Donald Campbell's water speed record attempts.

O'Brien and Pearce were using their Group A' Subaru Impezza again as the Focus WRC was still not ready.

They finished a creditable fifth overall and first in class at the event which was won by WRC star and VK Stobart team driver Matt Wilson, son of Ford Worcs Rally team principal Malcolm Wilson.

The list of drivers in the top-four finishers reads like a who's who of current top British rally drivers with Geoff Jones, Barry Johnson and Steve Petch also up there.

The event was not without scares for O'Brien and Pearce as gear linkage problems had to be resolved at service before the afternoon stages.

Also, they nearly hit deer on two separate occasions while flat out in fifth gear.

Preparations for the 2007 season will be under way shortly when the new car is ready. The first outing is likely to be the Wydean stages on Saturday, February 10, in the Forest Of Dean.