Slim-line Cookson back in action on the Swansea Bay Rally

Five stones lighter than he was back in January, Saltash rally driver Alan Cookson is hoping to make good use of the extra power-to-weight ratio when he and London co-driver Julian Wilkinson return to the 2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship with next Saturday's Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally.

Regular gym sessions four or five times a week, coupled with training for the Plymouth Half Marathon has seen Cookson lose around 70lbs so far and after a couple of months out of action, he'll be back behind the wheel of his venerable Subaru WRC nicknamed 'Daisy'.

However, the Cornwall resident will be hoping for better luck having retired from the Manx Telecom Rally last time out and then missing the Severn Valley National Rally back in May due to work commitments but now is raring to go again in the Robert Wiseman Dairies, Kick Energy, GillettsSpar.com, Kumho Tyres, Riverside Property Services and Olverelectrical.com supported Subaru Impreza WRC.

Alan, who holds 8th position overall and 2nd in Class 9, commented:

We're really looking forward to getting back out in the woods after the disappointment of the Manx retirement, and are hoping our early season luck returns as we get to the Welsh forests for the first time this year after missing the Severn Valley last month due to work commitments, however we intend to do the Tempest Rally later in the year instead.

We're certainly hoping for better luck in Wales than we had last year on this event, when the engine blew up after only getting to do three stages of the event and I've been told by the people who have done the pacenotes that the stages, as used on the Wales Rally GB in November, are in awesome condition, some of the best they have driven over for some time.

We are really hoping for a good, clean run this year, and are once again targeting a top ten finish to net some valuable points for the championship. I'm hoping my continued weight loss will also help us out on the rally and I'm sure it's got to make a difference having 70lb less weight in the car although it does mean my right foot is not as heavy so I need to concentrate on making sure I'm pushing the accelerator hard to the floor!

As an added incentive, the series organisers ANCRO have put together a TV package for this event which will mean coverage for the first time since the opening round of Rallye Sunseeker, and Cookson is hoping to provide plenty of action.

The Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally gets underway at 10.00 from Swansea whereafter crews tackle the classic tests of South Wales before returning to the finish back at Swansea around 16.25.

2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship Standings after Round Five
1. Daniel Barry 100
2. Marcus Dodd 98
3. Simon Hughes 94
4. Nik Elsmore 86
5. Paul Bird 68
6. Owen Murphy 65
7. Steve Perez 63
8. Alan Cookson 47
9. Alan Carmichael 43
10. Wug Utting 29