TOP local rally crew Martin Sansom and Phil Wells are facing an even long wait before their championship debut in the Peugeot factory-built 106 Super GTi.

Last weekend's first-round of the Formula Rally Championship at Wrexhamn was postponed due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Now the Carlisle Rally, round-two of the championship and scheduled be staged on April 28, has been called off for the same reason.

Sansom, from Sidcup and Wells, from Dartford, now face a wait until the Scottish National Rally on June 9 and the likelihood of a very busy schedule during the latter part of the year as the championship is scheduled to run over eight events.

In November, they hope to race in the British round of the World Championship, the Network Q Rally. They last competed in this event in 1999, finishing third in their class and second private entry.

Meanwhile, the forests in the Ashford area and the Brands Hatch race-circuit will host stages of the Kent Rally on Saturday, October 13.

This year, the event is a round of the new Formula Rally Championship that is being contested by the major motor manufacturers. In the past, the event has catered for the local enthusiast. This will be the case again this year, but many of the top crews in the country will also be competing in entries includsing Peugeot, Ford, Proton and Volkswagen.

The rally will provide a great opportunity for local enthusiasts to see top crews competing without having to travel to Wales or the north of England. It will also bring a welcome boost to the local economy due to the high demand for accommodation and catering.

The event is being run by Bexley Light Car Club in association with Maidstone & Mid-Kent and Sevenoaks & District motor clubs. The amount of work involved in preparation and during the weekend is too great for one club to run the event alone and the pooling of skills and resources will ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Bexley Light Car Club is also running the Anniversary Stages Rally at Longcross in Surrey on Sunday, June 24. This has been a very popular event in the past and the club is hoping for a good entry for this tarmac rally.

The Longcross venue is not open to spectators and those wishing to see the action must enrol as marshals for the day.

For further information on either of these events, please contact Phil Wells on 01322 276081.