GUY Wilks' dream of lifting the Junior World Rally Championship is still alive - but only just!

The Darlington driver was knocked off the top spot at the weekend. Drivers have to nominate one of the eight events to sit out during the season and Wilks' Suzuki team opted for the one in Corsica.

If Daniel Sordo had won then Wilks' hopes would have gone up in smoke, but second place for the Spaniard left the door ajar.

Sordo is now eight points clear of Wilks and needs to finish in the top seven to guarantee a title which, until recently when Wilks took maximum points in three events, looked to be heading to County Durham.

The final event is on the Citroen driver's home patch in Catalunya, Spain, so Wilks will have his fingers crossed that Sordo encounters engine troubles.

"I am not going to take any unnecessary risks," said Sordo. "I am not going to place in danger all this season's work."

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire rally driver Ryan Champion claimed one of the biggest prizes in British motorsport when he clinched the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Challenge title after a third-place finish in the Bulldog Rally at the weekend.

Champion, from Castleton, and York co-driver Craig Thorley only needed to finish inside the top four in their class to claim the works Mitsubishi drive in the 2006 British Rally Championship.

Following a cautious approach, the pair brought the MSR Conchango-backed Evo 8 home in ninth place overall and third in class on the final round of the 2005 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship held in mid-Wales.

"It was hard work driving at that speed as sometimes you think you are going too slow, then you feel that it's a bit quick so it's been a tough rally," said Champion.

"The team have done a great job and so has Craig so I'd like to thank them and I'm really looking forward to driving the works car next season."

Published: 25/10/2005