Damian Cole got his Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title challenge off to a flying start, with second place on the Tour of Epynt.
The changeable weather made tyre choice extremely difficult throughout the day, and while one side of the range was suffering a wintry blizzard – the other was enjoying bright sunshine.
Yet despite taking the wrong tyres on two of the longest stages, and ice tyres on a rapidly drying final loop, Damian and co-driver Shelley Rogerson did well to finish runner-up on the event.
“We had a good run through the first stage, but I chose completely the wrong tyres for two of the longer stages – my fault, but that’s what did a lot of the damage,” said Damian.
“I think we were lucky in the end to come second, because we went on an ice tyre for the last stage that gave us no grip at all, I might as well have had Plasticine on the rims!”