The Hankook Gravel Rally Championship kicked off in style this evening with thousands of rally fans in Bournemouth wowed by some of the most thrilling high speed action on day one of Rallye Sunseeker.

Fastest Hankook GRC competitor over the first two stages of the rally was Paul Bird in his Subaru Impreza WRC setting the pace through the Bournemouth Winter Gardens and along the seafront– the traditional curtain opener to the UK’s premier gravel rally series.

Local hero Marcus Dodd was fastest on the first run through the Winter Gardens but despite saying he was a little rusty Bird finishes day one of the Rallye Sunseeker at the head of the leaderboard for the fourth year running.

But the real test is still to come as overnight rally leader Bird and co-driver co-driver Andy Richardson start day two of the event just 1.8 seconds ahead of Phillip Morrow and Simon Morrow in their Mitsubishi Evo who lies second overall.

Saturday provides a full day of action for competitors in the Hankook GRC with drivers bidding to secure an early points haul in the seven round championship.

Twelve high speed stages in the forests around Ringwood and Wareham lie ahead of the crews in a full day of action before a finish back in Bournemouth Town Centre

“Once again the Rallye Sunseeker has provided a tremendous start to the rally and to the Hankook GRC,’’ said Hankook motorsports manager Mike Patterson. “We are delighted to begin our support of the series in such style.’’