On the first service everything went out of the window. Ken had already told me 'He'll moan about the tyres, he always does' So it was quite funny when the tyres didn't even get a mention.The car swung under the canopy and into place, 'there's no oil pressure' shouts Simon from inside the car. The 25 minute service time was cut down to about 14 minutes due to the length of time taken to book into the check in and then the lengthy drive round to the service area. Add to this the 4 miles or so to the check in point for the next stage and you start to get the picture. 

This is a time for control. Ken starts to take the distributor cap when we notice there is oil all over the engine. Ken explained that he had over filled the oil and expected something like this. My new job was to mop up the oil. I got some absorbant paper out of the van off I went. It looked like the oil was coming out of the rocker cover. Ken meanwhile was taking the oil pressure sensor out, to stop the warning light coming on. George refilled the tank, 17 litres were required for the next stages. Zack had the kettle on and toast made for Simon and Hayley.

'We've only got 5 mins' shouts Hayley 'and we got to get to the start yet'

They jump back into the car and belt up while Ken is still putting the engine back together. 

'Right, start her up' shouts Ken.

 Nothing.... the starter had failed us, here started the problem. We had to push this car uphill out of the service area and we was on slippy grass.If they don't make the check in in time they are out. We all summoned as much strength as we could, dug our heels in and shoved with all our might. She was back out onto the road. Now we had to bump start her. Pushing her up hill we had no joy. So back down the hill she went and thrid time lucky, vrooom, they were off. 

Added to the rally was now the fact that if they stalled the mini around the course (a stage was 20 miles long) they were out and Simon will tell you it is easy to stall.

We tidied up and it was back to waiting again. A quick recap of the next stages and time due back in and we relaxed again. 11:45 they were due in next. I was amazed at the speed of the pitstop and what in fact had happened. 14 minutes if you were sit and do nothing would probably seem like a life time but believe me this isn't the case here. It felt like no sooner had they pulled in they were off again.