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Essex rally driver Tejpar denied British Championship finish

27 Jun Essex rally driver Tejpar denied British Championship finish

Nabila Tejpar was cruelly denied a finish at the second round of the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship last weekend, after her Peugeot 208 R2 suffered clutch failure in the closing stages of the Renties Ypres Rally (22/23 June).

Tejpar, from Maldon, Essex returned to the BRC for the first time since winning the 2017 Ladies title as the series headed to the infamous asphalt roads of Belgium in the hope of gaining some valuable points and experience for the season ahead.

However, a clutch release bearing failed on the 18th of 23 stages, side-lining the 208 almost within sight of the finish.

After two competitive seasons in the British Championship, Tejpar elected to head into Europe in 2018, contesting the Peugeot Rallye Cup Iberica in Spain and Portugal. The single make formula for the 208 model, ensures close competition and would allow Tejpar to gain valuable experience of event never previously contested, including two World Rally Championship outings.

The 24-year old’s foreign campaign will be complemented by several events in the BRC, with the Ypres Rally being the first of the season. Along with co-driver Richard Bliss, the duo headed to the popular event with confidence after a solid opening round of the Peugeot Cup last month.

Tejpar would have to acclimatise quickly to her surroundings as the event would mark the first time she had used the Peugeot on closed-road asphalt stages. Famed for its deep ditches and gravel-lined corners, Tejpar took the opening day in her stride, finishing 14th Junior from 17 starters.

Day two would carry on as she left off, gradually building her confidence and edging closer to the pace she would be happy with. But on the fifteenth test, the hard work would come undone when the clutch release bearing failed, sending Tejpar into instant retirement.