A BROKEN fan belt failed to stop Steve Head and Graham Raeburn from winning Garstang and Preston motor club's memorial road rally.

Arriving at the petrol halt almost a minute down on early leaders Simon Harrison and Mike Hughes, Head clawed back the advantage over the second half to claim a hard-earned victory.

"I have to say a massive thank you to everyone who stopped to help as we tried to fit a new fan belt without any tools!" said Head.

"We had to do about five miles conserving battery power, although it cost a little time and dropped us down the running order but at least we were still in it."

Second place went to Dan Willan and Paul Allen (Vauxhall Astra) with Howard Price and Brynmor Pierce (Ford Escort RS) third.

Blackburn's Terry Martin enjoyed one of his best outings of the year to claim an excellent fifth, overcoming a slipping clutch on his overheating Peuegot 205 GTi and an ailing navigator.

Mapman Jerry Hettrick said: "I woke up Saturday morning with cold symptoms and my throat was that sore I could hardly speak.

"But well done to all at Garstang and Preston and Terry for the event, it was the most enjoyed event this year, despite feeling absolutely awful."

Organiser Steve Coombes laid out an interesting 135-mile route through North Lancashire, starting and finishing at Myerscough College, near Garstang and taking in some of the best-known roads in the area.

He was rewarded with an entry of over 50 cars, including the top runners in the HRCR, SD34, and ANWCC championships.

"I'd had nightmares for weeks about the event, especially with the quality of the field, but the event appears to have been a success with everyone enjoying it. Mission accomplished and thanks to everyone who helped," he said.

East Lancashire finishers included Myles Gleave/Jason Crook (Peugeot 205,12th), Paul Buckel/Steve Butler (Vauxhall Nova, 20th), and Paul Blanchard/Derek Lewin (Vauxhall Astra, 27th).

Not so lucky were expected front-runners Chris Astley, from Hoghton, and Chris Bebbington, who went out with head gasket failure on their rapid Vauxhall Nova and Rod Brereton, chairman of Pendle DMC, who retired when navigator Charlie Woodward fell ill.