High Hopes
With Abingdon a fading memory and some big events just a few weeks away, Mark II Motorsport took part in The Poole Car Stages at Avon Park, near Ringwood as another competitive test session. As it transpired, it was a good job they did! Seeded at car 3, the WRC was lined up against 2 Metro 6R4's driven by Mark Slater and Steve Furzeland, the Group A Escort Cosworths of Mark Worley and Dave Fairless as well as a number of quick Mk2 Escorts, Mitsubishi Evo 5's and Subaru Imprezas. It was however, an event that on paper Mark Welch co driven by James Sunderland could win.

Pre-event Mishaps!
The car had once again been back to the offices of DOME for further remedial tweaks in the engine and suspension departments together with the fitting of a new bag tank. This seemingly simple operation was to haunt the team. The morning of scrutineering, Mark Welch decided to take the car up the road to check all was well - it wasn't. The car stopped after less than a mile when the fuel pump expired. Dennis Osborne kindly dispatched Dino down from Bromsgrove with a new pump and filter. Job done! The fuel pressure was much better on the car necessitating more adjustments.

SS1-SS2.........
The team then traveled down to Ringwood for scrutineering and the event. SS1 saw Mark II struggling with a car woefully down on power. "It wouldn't pull you out of bed" was the drivers' assessment. Even James who had not experienced the power of 4-wheel drive felt the car was "extremely sluggish". The team had dropped around 20 seconds to the Metro pair and Worley. SS2 thinks got worse. After exiting the last chicane, the car felt like it was stopping "it was as if the handbrake had been pulled on," said a bitterly frustrated Welch.

Tweaks & Investigations Required
In the interest of preserving a sick engine, the team called it a day. The problem has not yet been identified but the engine has been very unimpressive since being rebuilt after the accident of last December. With the Mewla rally coming up next followed by the Tour of Flanders, DOME have their work cut out to rectify things and restore the teams confidence. Mark II Motorsport would like to thank their sponsors: - Bluecol Brands, SFL, TotalFinaElf, Springwood Aviation Services, GP Engineering and Rallygallery. Special thanks to Light Brigade for getting the graphics package sorted quickly.

Many Thanks
Mark II Motorsport would like to thank their sponsors: - Bluecol Brands, TotalFina, SFL ltd, GP Engineering and Springwood Aviation Services. Special thanks to DOME and RallyGallery.com. Special thanks to Light Brigade for getting the graphics package sorted quickly.