THERE aren't many things that get me out of bed at 6.15am on a cold February morning but the offer of a drive with a rally driver was one opportunity I couldn't miss.

I was invited to tackle part of the Sweetlamb rally circuit in Wales with Clive and Daniel Dunbabin, 22-year-old twin brothers from Grappenhall. The boys were introduced to the sport by their big brother, Mark, eight years ago.

They drive a specially adapted Peugeot 205, fully fitted with a roll cage, safety harnesses and distance measuring equipment. Daniel, a service manager for a car dealership, is driver of the car, while Clive, an electrician, is navigator. A service crew back them up for routine and emergency repairs enroute during rallies.

After the brothers' quick warm up and a few practice runs around a section of the circuit, it was my turn.

The team's service crew offered me a sick bag as I climbed into the car, but they needn't have worried, I hadn't dared to eat all day! As we set off I can honestly say I have never been so scared, but the adrenalin rush was unbelievable.

Imagine hurtling towards a corner at 90 miles an hour and not knowing whether there is a sheer drop on the other side, or taking a bend so fast that it feels like you're on two wheels and knowing that if something goes wrong, you could end up rolling down the hill side.

Unfortunately rally teams cannot succeed on skill alone. Money is often the key to success in the rally driving game. The team have just received sponsorship from Drivernet, a recruitment agency. This has paid their rally entry fees and kitted them out in team clothing. Warrington car dealers, Bellcharm, also sponsor many of their car parts, but the brothers still have to find at least £6,500 per year to keep their car on the road.

The team's next challenge is the Malcolm Wilson event in Cockermouth as part of the 1998 British Trails and Rally Drivers' Association's national rally championship, and finances permitting, they hope to enter the RAC Rally in November. This will cost them at least £5,000.

But as Daniel says, he and Clive would get nowhere without their back up team. This is made up of their brother Mark, Gregory Flynn, Andy Boyle, Julian Broadhurst, Neil Thornton, Pat O'Conner and Nick Jones. "They are just as important as the car itself," he said.

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