Radstock’s Ross Whittock has described last weekend’s Barum Rally as the “toughest event yet,” speaking after the round of the European Rally Championship in the Czech Republic.

The two-day event on the closed public roads of rural Czech proved very unpredictable due to heavy rain prior and during the first day. Some corners were like ice, said Ross.

They started cautiously, but still managed to visit the undergrowth on stage three, losing some 45 seconds to the leaders and the little confidence Chris Ingram and co-driver, Ross, had managed to stitch together.

Day Two took them away from the fast sections, and they were faced with more technical terrain, but one that was still very slippery. They changed the setup of the car which helped a lot, and proceeded to climb the leader-board, setting top-three stage times.

Chris and Ross, in the 11° sponsored Skoda Fabia, prepared by the German-based Toksport WRT team, finished a credible eighth overall, but more importantly, finished third in the Under-28 Junior Championship, with everything to fight for in the next round in Poland.