Joe teamed up with the Pirelli Kick Junior 1000 Rally champion, Chris Ingram from Manchester, to compete in the Grizedale stages.
Joe and Chris, who were competing in a Super 1000 Toyota Aygo, supported by Middleton Sheet Metal and run by Coppcut Toyota, had an incredible start to the rally, finishing the first seven-mile night stage.
They were some 30-plus seconds ahead of their nearest rivals in the 1,400cc category.
This was some feat for the pair as they had the smallest car in the rally.
They also managed to beat more powerful four-wheel drive machinery as well.
Joe said: “Chris and I had never competed together before, but I knew Chris was a quick driver and he certainly confirmed that.
“The first seven-mile stage on Friday night was the first time Chris had driven at night in a rally. To set a time that was not only faster than all the 1,400cc cars, but faster than some four wheel drive cars was amazing.”
He added: “The six stages on the Saturday saw us set fast times again.”
On the Sunday morning the pair knew what they had to do, as Joe epxlained: “We knew we only had to have steady runs through the stages.
Mishap
“Grizedale is very fast and can catch you out, which it did when we hit a bank hard in stage three, losing us a bit of time, and on stage seven we got a puncture, but luckily it was towards the end of the stage.”
The pair finished first in class, fourth in the two-wheel drive rankings and a creditable 14th place overall.
Joe added: “I would like to thank Middleton Sheet Metal Co. Ltd and Copcutt Toyota for their valued support, the car was superb.
“Chris is a very talented young driver, with a big future ahead of him in the sport.”
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