USING an engine his grandfather started in his shed, a rally driver from Barrasford made his mark on home turf.

Chris Grieve, expertly navigated by daredevil co-driver Paul Makepeace, burnt around Otterburn Ranges during the weekend’s Maxxis England Rally Championships to claim first place in the 1600 litre class, and 12th overall.

While up against cars with engines costing between £10,000 and £15,000, the underdogs tore through the field in their Peugeot powered by a self-made rear engine.

Chris’ grandfather Walter started the engine to get his grandson back into rallying, but died before completing it. However, Chris and his father Willy stepped in to finish the job, and are reaping the rewards.

Chris said: “It is one of the fastest rallies in the country so the rear engine has a lot to do with how you perform, and I was not far off 130mph throughout the day.

“It’s nice to go up to my local rally in a little car we have built ourselves, and we didn’t do badly with an engine built by an 80-year-old man in a garden shed!

“I keep thinking I can hear him up there, and that spurs me on.

“I’m over the moon with how we performed and I can’t wait for the next one.”