Steve Perez barrel rolls his Ford Focus RS WRC 05 on the Woodpecker Stages Rally 2008

08humberside Steve Perez barrel rolls his Ford Focus RS WRC 05 on the Woodpecker Stages Rally 2008

VK Kick Energy boss Steve Perez rolled out of the Woodpecker Stages Rally a few weeks ago in spectacular fashion. He also still set fastest time for the stage as the roll happened on the flying finish.

The Perez crash:

Along with co driver Josh Burton, the Clay Cross businessman was comfortably leading the Sixty & Worcestershire organised round of the BTRDA Championship going into the fifth stage of the day.

However, as the pair approached the very last corner on SS5, which transgressed the flying finish line, Perez went off at an estimated 90mph, causing the Ford Focus WRC to barrel-roll into retirement, despite setting the fastest time on that stage also!

Despite being stiff, the good news was that the pair was unhurt and Steve did no damage to the neck he broke in last year's East African Safari Rally, and still saw the funny side of it:

"I crashed at 'Birdy's Corner' but you know, me, I'm always up for doing something better than him." quipped Perez in deference to his friend and rival Paul Bird. "He slid off the road there a few years ago and just ended up in the undergrowth but I have to do a double roll to go one better...! Seriously, I'm disappointed and the car has sustained quite a lot of damage but we'll either have this one ready, or I'll use my 2003 car for the Trackrod next month. It's testimony to the strength that these M-Sport Ford Focus WRC's are built to that Josh and I were able to walk away from a 90mph accident virtually unscathed."

Meanwhile, Shaun Gardner won the rally in his Evo 5.9 following Perez's crash and nine time winner Andy Burton exiting when his car caught fire.

Some vids of the rally: