Rallying: Luckless Weardon is hopeful

NEIL WEARDON is hoping a change of surface will bring a change of luck when the 1999 British Rally Championship leaves the forests and moves on to tarmac in Scotland for round four this weekend.

Lancashire's Weardon and his Vauxhall Astra team-mate Jarmo Kytolehto have suffered more than their fair share of problems in previous rounds, mainly from punctures on the forest tracks.

Weardon is optimistic that the Jim Clark Memorial Rally in Duns this weekend will see them move up the championship placings even though he has not competed in it before.

He said: "I'm still on a learning curve but I've been told I drive very smoothly, and my style should suit this event because you don't want to slide around too much on tarmac."

The event, which begins on Friday, is unique in this year's championship with most of the 27 special stages taking place at night.

"You need to have quite a bit of stamina to stay sharp, and anyone who doesn't like rallying when they're tired will struggle," said the 27-year- old Weardon from Blackpool.