DORCHESTER-based rally driver Anthony Willmington and co-driver Andy White overcame a series of crashes and problems to finish third in the 2009 Paperclix Jersey Rally.

Willmington and White, seeded number one following last year’s victory, tackled 33 stages over two days on the closed roads of Jersey, finishing first in class, first in the Hamilton Classics Championship, but third overall.

Simon Mauger finished 33 seconds clear of Willmington, with winner Peter Lloyd a further 17 seconds up the road.

Wilmington said: “If someone had offered me third overall on day one after the bad start and problems we’ve had, I’d have snapped their hand off.”

A sudden heavy downpour ruined Willmington’s opening stage as he was not allowed to change his tyres, having opted to go on slicks the night before.

“Weather forecasts had been dry with possible drizzle, rain outbreaks later in the day,” said co-driver White. “With slick tyres chosen, we had no choice but to run with what we had on the car.”

Willmington overshot the first hairpin and took out an event cameraman, who escaped unharmed after jumping over a wall.

The Dorchester pair continued to struggle for traction on the tricky four-mile stage but fought back after being able to change tyres before the next stage and ended the day just 13 seconds off the lead.

After a great start on day two, winning the Greve stage, Willmington dropped eight seconds to Lloyd after clipping a rock, shattering a wheel and breaking a rear suspension arm in the process, with more than two miles of the Ouen stage left.

Another broken rear suspension arm cost more time but the county town duo fought back, taking fastest stage times in the process, but did not quite have enough to overhaul Lloyd and Mauger.

Preparation is now underway to prepare the car for the gravel stages around Farnborough at the Tempest Rally on November 7.