Pinder poised for showdown

12:33pm Wednesday 7th November 2007

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Shipley's Luke Pinder is hoping history repeats itself when he aims to clinch the "Silverstone Stars" Rally Championship title in the final round which starts on Saturday.

Pinder admits this weekend's Tempest Rally in the south of England is "a winner-takes-all" race and he triumphed in a similar scenario in 2005.

He started the final round of the Peugeot 206 1400 championship knowing only a win would be good enough to secure the title and he duly delivered.

Several crews are still in with a chance of taking the prestigious championship but the favourites are the top two remaining MSA class cars of Pinder and Martyn Taylor in a Ford KA and the powerful Peugeot 106 of Richard Sykes and Simon Taylor.

Pinder said: "We are up for it. The car has been significantly lightened and fully rebuilt, I have lost three kilos in weight and so has Martyn."

Pinder has had problems on every event so far this year and is looking forward to a clean run on the Tempest.

He goes into the event with a one-point advantage over Sykes with FIA class leader Matt Cotton lurking in the background.

Pinder added: "Both Richard and myself are well aware that Matt has finished every round so far this year and that if we slip up, Matt will be there to take our place."