Having completed round six of the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Championship, Nathan Crewe is happy to have finished the rally and is content with his result on the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally.The Mansfield based rally took place during one of the warmest weekend's of the year and while heat and dust would play its part on this loose surface special stage rally for most, the Midlands pairing of Crewe from Bromsgrove and Chris Brooks, his Birmingham co-driver knew the conditions would have little effect compared with the events long straights requiring far more horsepower than their MG ZR could deliver.The pair made a steady start moving up to fifth in the XSpec 1400 category after the first two opening tests. They suffered a series of spins over the next couple of stages."We made some changes to the brake set up prior to this rally and have driven hard to try and make up for the lack of power on the stages. So not really sure of the spins were caused by either or a combination of both."

Crewe and Brooks continued throughout the day with some minor gearbox problems, a problem which first occurred on the recent Red Dragon Rally. However, the pair eventually returned to Mansfield and the finish in sixth place in the XSpec 1400 series and fifth in their class. Despite missing the first two events in the series, this result has now moved Crewe into eighth place in the drivers series and Brooks into ninth for the co-drivers title. "It is a bit disappointing to finish in sixth but it was hard to ask for anything more given the power disadvantage. I can't keep blaming the car for the result, but we have suffered heavily today with the nature of this rally. The next event should be better for us. It has been the hottest rally I have ever done, both Chris and myself have taken on lots of fluids. Chris put in another faultless performance once again."

The Midlands rally duo will now wait three weeks before they resume their championship campaign, when they contest the Quinton Stages Rally on Saturday 8th July. Voted the best BTRDA event of 2005, the Quinton is set in Mid Wales with its rally HQ set up in the relatively quiet town of Llandovery. Crewe and Brooks will be looking to Nathan and Chris are supported in the BTRDA XSpec 1400 championship by Grosvenor Repair Centre, Cottrill Transport, Questmead and Silkolene.