Following the demonstrations by a large contingent of MG Metro 6R4s that have gathered down in Bournemouth , a quality 85-car entry set out on the opening two stages of Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the 2008 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship. For the past four years, it has been Cumbrian Paul Bird who has led the event overnight but, in his absence on this occasion, STEVE FLECK/GEORGE THAW have placed their Subaru Impreza at the top of the time sheets.

Just over a second adrift is Scottish teenager DAVID BOGIE in his Group N ‘production' Mitsubishi Lancer. Co-driven by KEVIN RAE, Bogie is only two-tenths of a second in front of the first Irish crew SEAN DEVINE/DAMIEN DUFFIN (Subaru Impreza).

NIK ELSMORE/PAUL WAKELY (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) were quickest out of the box, setting fastest time on the first run through the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth, while STEPHEN MOORE/ TONY MCHUGH (Ford Focus WRC) took the honours on the second pass of the 1.6 mile stage.

Five-time Sunseeker winner MARCUS DODD was left languishing down in 7 th place after his Hyundai Accent WRC was immediately slowed with clutch problems. The car will require a clutch and gearbox change before the restart in the morning.

JON INGRAM (Subaru Impreza WRC) has not had the best of evenings, having to use gravel tyres on the tarmac stage due to a lack of suitable wheels and then incurring a ‘jump start' penalty at the start of the second stage.

Three cars didn't make it through to the overnight halt – MARK GAMBLE retired his Peugeot 106 with a dropped valve, while CRAIG BENNETT's MG Metro 6R4 departed the fray when a small electrical fire damaged the wiring loom and ROB HARFORD's Land Rover succumbed to gearbox failure.

Top Ten After 2 Stages :

1. Steve Fleck/George Thaw Subaru Impreza WRC 2m55.9s

2. David Bogie/Kevin Rae Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) 2m57.3s

3. Sean Devine/Damien Duffin Subaru Impreza WRC) 2m57.5s

4. Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson Hyundai Accent WRC 2m57.9s

5. Nik Elsmore/Paul Wakely Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) 2m58.0s

6. Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson Peugeot Cosworth 2m58.0s

7. Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery Hyundai Accent WRC 2m58.4s

8. Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh Ford Focus WRC 2m58.5s

9. Andrew Barnes/Neil Dashfield Ford Focus WRC 2m58.6s

10. Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh Subaru Impreza WRC 2m59.2s

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