Bentham rally driver David Wright suffered an early retirement on last weekend's Merrick rally in South West Scotland when fuel pressure problems forced his Drenth, Proflex, Kumho Tyres and Grove Hill Garage-backed GPM Mitsubishi Evo 9 out of the event after the first stage.2009 BTRDA champion Wright and co-driver Michael Wilkinson were competing on the Wigtown-based event to gain experience ahead of a possible switch to the Scottish Rally Championship in 2011.
Sadly for Wright the Evo's fuel pump popped a seal half way through the opening stage and the resulting loss of fuel pressure ended the event.
"I was gutted to retire so early," said Wright. "The first half of the stage had gone really well and then we had the problem and that was that."
"It's especially disappointing as I heard we were three seconds up on the eventual rally winner half way through the stage so it could've been a good battle."
"The competition at the top of the leaderboard is extrememly close in the Scottish championship and I'm seriously considering competing in the events next year."
Wright will now concentrate on completing his new car which he hopes to debut before the end of the year.
