DATE:  12th December 2006
RELEASE:  Immediate
CONTACT:  Helen Ray at HR PR on 07813 919333

Gremlins cause disappointment for Rally Dan but future looks bright

Daniel Boardman entered the Grizedale rally with Autobreakers this weekend as a round off to the 2006 rally season but an electrical gremlin and driveshaft problems hindered their recent winning streak.

“We did the local event as a round up for the end of the season as we struck a last minute deal with Autobreakers which enabled us to enter the event” says Dan.  “Kevin (co-driver) and I had a great start to the rally, the quickest start I’ve ever had, the car felt good and we were dancing through the first stage in great form until an electrical fault immobilised the car half way through.  We managed to get it going again to rejoin the Trophy rally but then suffered a drive shaft failure on stage 5.  It’s the worst luck we have had on a rally but we have had a lot of success this year so I suppose it is expected at some time; we still learned a lot and have a positive outlook for next year.”

“We took 2 Autobreakers staff members up to the rally as part of the team and gave them an insight into the exciting world of rallying. We took them round the service area, the spectator spots to watch the car in action and they had front row seats to watch the mechanics service the car between the stages. Not everyone knows what rallying is about and how it works, the guests had a great day out with the team and learnt how involving and exciting rallies are.”

Dan’s talent won him a rally scholarship at the beginning of the year and he went on to have great success in the Isle of Man, his maiden visit to the Island; his first tarmac rally where he convincingly took an outright class win. Encouraged by this success the team entered the Manx International Rally with Autobreakers and again won the class beating the reigning British Class Champion by a staggering 10minutes. “The event just goes to show that the team and I are very capable of producing results and have the speed and consistency to be British Champions, it was an awesome event and I look forward to doing it next year.” says Dan “It was the team’s second outing in the car which was built up from second hand parts on a very tight budget and they still managed to beat 2000cc Turbo charged 4wd cars! We turned a lot of heads and embarrassed some drivers in much more expensive cars, so it was quite satisfying”

Sadly, this weekend’s Grizedale was the last event for Dan’s first rally car, his Peugeot 205.  Dan plans to enter the 2007 British Rally Championship (BRC) in a new car and is in talks with local businesses who use the team as a marketing tool. “We are talking to current sponsors and new ones” says Dan.  “We run the car ourselves, which keeps costs to a minimum but we also have deals in place with EBC Brakes who have offered to supply our brakes consumables, a gearbox repairer and an engine specialist. Its ideal to have all these different product sponsors helping us out.  We involve specialists on each part of the car to ensure we have maximum reliability on all our components. It has taken a lot of hard work and time to get these deals into place and I know feel confident to run a professional team in the BRC. We are looking forward to next year and are very confident they can win the championship with the help of the local sponsors without whom it would be impossible”.

Dan has a great website with an online rally game and interested readers can also find out more about the car, events, sponsors and results at www.rallydan.co.uk. The British rally championship starts in March 2007 and Dan will be building a new car over the winter months in time for testing in February 2007.

To enquire about partnership with Boardman Motorsport in 2007, which offers innovative marketing and publicity opportunities, contact Daniel on 07970 533383 or .

Photos at:

http://www.rp-rallyphotography.com/pages/cgscar059_jpg.htm

http://www.jadrallypix.me.uk/Grizedale%202006/index.html

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Notes to editors:
(1) About Autobreakers: Autobreakers.co.uk is part of the recycling.co.uk group. Founded in Preston in 1961, the group has grown to become one of the largest and most reputable scrap metal recyclers in the north-west.   Autobreakers.co.uk began as an old fashioned scrap yard selling parts locally in 2002. They have grown to become a major player in the UK mail order car parts market.
(2) Photos and interviews with Daniel can be arranged.
(3) Current sponsors: Autobreakers in Preston; Rossall School, Lancashire; Lancashire Salvage and Brian Chisholm Car Repairs in Blackburn; K N Transmissions in Preston; Blackpool College; ATS Tyres in Preston.
(4) Contact Helen Ray on 07813 919333 to request photos / interviews.
(5) For more details about Boardman Motorsport see www.boardmanmotorsport.com / www.rallydan.co.uk