Driving a Skoda Octavia World Rally Car on gravel for the first time is normally done in the quiet surrounds of a test venue. West Wales rally driver Dorian Rees completed his first gravel test in front of hundreds of spectators on the Get Connected! Wyedean Forest Rally.

Having only completed a minor test in the car on tarmac, Rees and Forest of Dean resident, Paul Willetts started the Chepstow based rally aiming to defend their 2005 victory.

The 2004 Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Production Champion found the tight junctions a little difficult through the morning stages in the Prospeed Motorsport machine, suffering three costly spins.

"This morning was like a test session for us, getting used to the car. The stages that have been fast and flowing have been fine, but I have struggled on the tight sections and spun the car three times, having to select reverse each time which has cost us a lot of time this morning." confessed Rees at the event's service halt.

Despite the uncharacteristically eventful morning, Rees and Willetts were lying sixth overall as they headed into the final four tests of the day. The afternoon stages provided no problems with this reflected in the times. Rees returned to the Chepstow finish in fourth place happy with his pace in the afternoon.

"I know if we had spent more time in the car with a full test on gravel, I would have not had made the mistakes this morning. This afternoon I was very wary not to make the mistakes again and was not driving to my normal driving style and it has paid off with the result."

Rees has no further plans to compete this year and will spend time concentrating on his hire business, which now boasts  Subaru N8 & N9 Impreza's.