DATE:  5th March 2008
RELEASE:  Immediate
CONTACT:  Helen Ray at HR PR on 07813 919333

Dan’s Debut at Epynt delivers 2nd in class
John Price Rallying Tour of Epynt (2nd March 2008)

Lancashire rally driver Dan Boardman is delighted with his 2nd in class at the weekend in the ‘John Price Rallying’ Tour of Epynt (Sunday 2nd March 2008) at which he debuted in his new Peugeot 206 Challenge Cup rally car.

“The stages were absolutely fabulous - smooth and fast.  We didn’t make any mistakes, the car ran faultlessly as did the team and the pace notes went well, we couldn’t have gone much faster at all. We only had one scare on one of the fastest parts of the rally at the end of SS1” says Dan.

As relaxed as Dan is in his driving style, he was looking down adjusting the brake bias when he put an outside wheel in the grass into a flat out right hand corner. “The car went completely sideways and we thought it was going to dig in and roll but Dan managed to steer into the slide whilst I held my breath” says co-driver Dean Quaylan “It was a bit of a moment and I thought we were going for a biggie”.

And the result?  “We thought we had won until the official results came though telling us that they had got a minute wrong on the first stage meaning we finished 31 seconds behind the class winner.” The team had to enter class A5 which is a modified class because the 206 is not homologated for the standard N1 (Up to 1400cc) class. This engine is standard as Peugeot 1400cup regs. However, they managed to finish 11 minutes in front of the N1 class winner!

“You can really see why power is everything on the big steep long hills where we were going to sleep waiting to get to the tops!!” adds Dan.  “Basically we were competing with 90bhp against two MGZR’s with 170bhp, all singing and dancing 1400 16v race motors. Although we were second in class, if you analyse each separate stage time they show we took time out of the MG’s on a few stages”

So what’s next?  Later in the season Dan aims to repeat his record of outright class wins on the Isle of Man competing in the May stages followed by the Manx International in August.  “We’ve shown we are quick. It’s now just a case of getting a competitive engine in the car. If I’d had a 170bhp we would have won by miles as usual. I’m looking for a 2ltr 180bhp 206 which is homologated so I can put the running gear in this car and do the Manx International in August. In 2006 we were 29th overall in a standard 1300 Suzuki Swift, against some serious machinery”.

Of course none of this would be possible without the support of BMS team sponsors: Boardman motorsport, LNT Automotive, Malton Laser, Lifeline Extinguishers, Pro Tyre (Kumho), Lancashire Salvage and Grange Lane Garage

Dan and his team Boardman Motorsport offer bespoke hospitality and PR solutions in association with the rally team. Any companies looking for innovative marketing and publicity opportunities should contact Daniel on 07970 533383 or . To find out the latest information on the team or contact Daniel visit www.boardmanmotorsport.com

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Notes to editors:
(1) Visit www.rallydan.co.uk to view Dan’s driver website
(2) Photos and interviews with Daniel can be arranged.
(3) Current sponsors: www.rossallschool.org.uk (Rossall School, Fleetwood), www.autobreakers.co.uk (Autobreakers, Preston), Total Fitness (Preston), www.lancs-salvage.co.uk  (Lancashire Salvage, Blackburn), www.physicalpeak.co.uk  (Personal Trainer in Preston), and ATS Tyres (Preston).  In addition, Koni, Sportsline Leda and Bilstein, Silverstone Tyres, Luke and Corbau all provided sponsorship towards the build of the 2 Suzuki Swift rally cars.
(4) Contact Helen Ray on 07813 919333 to request photos / interviews.