WITH Tommi Makinen and Colin McRae battling it out at the head of the field for the World Rally Championship, Caldy born Tony Jardine and co-driver Bob McKenzie will enter this year's Network Q RAC Rally just intent on survival. The media duo, however, who competed together in 1993 and finished an excellent 37th overall, will also hope to clinch a trophy of their own - the Fleet street award, presented to the highest placed journalist in the overall standings.

The first priority, however as in any RAC Rally, will be to just get the RAC Insurance Direct/DC Cook Ford Escort on the finishing ramp at the end of the gruelling three day, 1145 event, starting Sunday. "Getting to the finish is the ultimate aim for al the amateurs and it is a despeate feeling if you crash or have to retire" commented Tony. ITV's Formula 1 panellist who has only retired twice in six attempts on the RAC.

"To do that you have to strike the right balance. Although you want to push hard to get to the highest position possible, you also have to exercise caution to prevent any mechan ical failure. It's finding that fine line between speed and safety which is so crucial do doing well," he explained.

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