RENAULT Dealer Rallying's Maxi Meganes are poised to get among their more powerful, four-wheel-drive rivals if conditions are favourable on the first leg of the three-day RAC Rally on November 23.

Drivers Martin Rowe and Robbie Head reckon if the stages remain dry the Megane's place on asphalt - unrivalled in this year's British Rally Championship - could give them a chance of top 10 placings come the first overnight halt back at the event's Cheltenham HQ.

"A lot of the stage miles on the first day are either on asphalt or hard surfaces as opposed to loose gravel which should suit the Megane perfectly," said 26-year-old Rowe, runner-up in this year's British championship. "The Megane is nimble and very powerful with excellent throttle response. Those characteristics, allied to the car's lightness compared to the four-wheel machinery, could see us near the top of the overall leader board come Sunday night."

With such a high number of 4WD World Rally Car machinery competing on this year's event, however, the two-wheel-drive category cars have been pushed down the starting order. Rowe will start at number 30, while Head is just seven places ahead in car number 23, a scenario which could put the Meganes at a slight disadvantage, believes Rowe.

"The problem could be that the four-wheel-drive cars will cut across corners and drag a lot of dirt onto the line the two-wheel-drive cars will want to take," he added. "Another problem is that if we start a mixed surface stage on tyres suited more to asphalt and we hit a gravel section then our grip will be drastically cut, whereas the four-wheel-drive cars will get through without too much trouble."

Twelve months ago Head spectacularly rolled his Megane into retirement after it slid wide on an icy bend and hit a tree stump on the Chatsworth spectator stage. Last year, the event's spectator stages were on the second day but this year they make up the opening leg, so Robbie will be hoping to get through without a repeat performance in front of the massive Sunday crowds.

"I think the best approach is going to be one of caution," said this year's Pirelli International Rally winner Head, for whom the RAC will be and his co-driver Bryan Thomas's last event with the Renault UK team. "This year there are artificial obstacles to contend with on the spectator stages, and these can easily trip you up.

"We could be close to the front on the opening day, although the junctions will slow us down compared to the all-wheel drive cars and it there is frost or snow then we'll struggle for grip. Our chief aim will be to win the two-wheel-drive category, and with the Megane's proven record on both asphalt and gravel I am confident I will be able to give the Renault UK team the perfect farewell present."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.