Daily Mirror Grand Prix correspondent Byron Young and broadcaster Tony Jardine joined forces for the first time to finish fourth in class and 61st overall on the Woodpecker Rally, in Ludlow (4 September). The media duo declared it ‘mission accomplished’ as they achieved their first target en-route to the world famous Monte Carlo Rally.

Making his co-driving debut, Young assisted driver Jardine in navigating his way through seven enduring forest stages in their ProSpeed Ford Fiesta. The event, being the penultimate round of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship and the BTRDA Forest Rally Series, had over 160 starters with just 92 finishers.

Young earned the first of four signatures required for his international co-drivers licence, which he needs in order to compete in the landmark centenary Monte Carlo Rally next January.

Rally newcomer and Twickenham resident Young commented, “Tony did really well, especially on the second stage when I called a hairpin right when it was actually a hairpin left. It was gated, he spotted the mistake and got it right, but if he had got it wrong or dithered in the slightest we could have hit anything and been off.

“It’s such an experience when you’re flying through the air, the car is half sideways and you’re in a top gear! We went through one forest area where two cars had gone over the edge, they were lying in a wreck, with another competitor pulled over on the side. It was carnage but we made it to the end which was our main target!”

Jardine and Young were third in class N3 after the fourth stage, but arrived at the start of the fifth stage too early and earned an unfortunate time penalty.

“For my first rally I’m just delighted we got to the finish. I’ve definitely got a new respect for rally drivers.” said Young.

Ascot based Jardine said, “Honestly this event has been an amazing start for Byron, and great training for him.

“Cars were rolling down ravines, and there were some major wrecks – absolute right offs. There were also numerous punctures suffered by other competitors on the stages, but we managed to avoid that. It was truly an unforgiving rally, but Byron really got stuck in and did a great job.

“It was unfortunate to get a time penalty on the fifth stage, but learning how to calculate your check-in times for time control is all part of a co-drivers training.”

The Kumho-backed Daily Mirror / ProSpeed team will be back in action at the Kall Kwik Rally, in Yorkshire, on 27 November.