WINNING last year's Wyedean was the highlight of a frustrating season for Charlie Payne and co-driver Craig Thorley.

"Our season was rubbish after that," admitted Craig.

"We rolled off a 30-foot cliff 500 yards into the Malcolm Wilson Rally, then the water pump failed on a shakedown for the Somerset Stages in Steve Perez's garden (Perez has his own 4km stage).

"We had a bad day at the Plain Rally and didn't do anything after that because Charlie got a massive contract to supply milk to supermarkets."

Charlie has been rallying since 1977 but it's only recently that he has concentrated on BTRDA events in his Ford Focus.

Co-driver Craig did his first Wyedean back in 1983 with Keith Stones and managed 11 on the trot before going off to do international events.

He won the 1990 Trackrod Rally with David Thompson, and helped Mark Higgins win the 2002 Manx. With Mark, he came sixth overall on the Tour of Flanders.

He has also co-driven for the likes of David Higgins, Ryan Champion and Mark Proctor.

He said: "We've already got our Wyedean entry in. Even though we won last year we'd prefer to race on gravel this time around, rather than snow and ice.

"Charlie had to hand the big trophy back to Phil Turley and he told him 'I want that back'."