THREE Ludlow Castle Motor Club members had a bad day at the office at the Roger Albert Clark Rally in Sunderland.

Church Stretton's Phil Clarke, paired with Yorkshireman Darren Moon, finished 35th after their Ford Escort experienced gearbox problems.

And Alan Walker and Jez Rogers faced engine failure.

The event relives the glory days of the former RAC Rally, now known as Wales Rally GB, with an emphasis on historic category cars, long days and stages navigated by reading a map.

Clarke and Moon were seeded at six following a sixth place finish at last year's rally.

Walker and Rogers, also in a Ford Escort MKII, were just two placed behind and were competing at the event for the first time.

Clean runs for both crews saw them down in 19th and 27th place respectively, but with such small mileage, the time differences between them and the top 10 were minimal.

But events took a turn for the worse for Clarke and Moon on the run back to Herrington Park when only their second gear became available.

Two more runs at the same place also saw Walker and Rogers experience problems.

Clarke and Moon then headed to Croft Racing Circuit, but the second gearbox became too noisy, forcing them to call it a day.