Dorian Rees has had to withdraw from the Scottish International Rally on the 11th/12th June following his first stage retirement on the Mutiny National Rally. The retirement may also put an end to his rally plans for the short term, with a possible return on the Jim Clark Rally if a suitable budget can be found.

The Llanybydder driver had planned to push from the start in his Subaru Impreza WRX on the Mid Wales event, but on the first stage things were not right in the car with Rees and co-driver Patrick Walsh concerned there was a mechanical problem, but mid way through the stage on an uphill hairpin the car slowly rolled over onto its roof. Although the pair lost little time with the roll and were soon on their way again, the car slid off the road on a tightening corner causing instant retirement.

"The car was not right from the start, so I am not sure if there was something damaged, but on the uphill hairpin we turned into the corner and over it went. We did not cut the corner, but I am not sure how it happened, whether we were too wide. We continued but after sliding off again further in the stage we decided to stop. I cannot make excuses I was driving and it went over, but I cannot explain what went wrong. We will investigate the car to see if it was a mechanical problem over the coming week."

The accident has marked the end of what had been a remarkable achievement, with Rees in his fourth year of rallying having never retired from a rally through accident damage on what was his 13th event since moving up to four wheel drive rallying.

"We have only ever retired with mechanical problems and there have not been many of those, this has been a first for me."

Only six days separating the Mutiny and Scottish Rallies, Rees made an instant decision to withdraw from the Scottish. The decision could also be long term.

"Our plan at the start of the year was to contest two rounds of both the Kwik Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship and the Kumho National Championship. We have had good runs in both series, having Production Class wins in both, having led the National and currently leading the British Production classes.

However, our budget was only for the four rallies, we had secured support to do both Mutiny and Scottish. The damage on the car will now use up the remaining budget and we may not continue for the rest of the season. I have been on the pace in both series claiming top ten placings, but you can only do what you can afford. I will aim to get the car completely rebuilt before deciding what to do next, but if we can get the budget I will certainly be on the Jim Clark Rally on the first weekend in July,"