WINKLEBURY off-road racer Jason Nicoll has had an eventful start to his All Wheel Drive Club Britpart Safari Championship.

After winter modifications to the steering and the suspension of his Keith Gott Land Rover crazybodywork. com-sponsored Mattseratti, Nicoll was hoping for a good start to his 2014 campaign at the Walters Arena in south Wales.

In testing conditions and after suffering a faulty new steering box, he completed the day eighth out of 32. He returned to south Wales for round two at Ebbw Vale and this time conditions were dry and sunny on the remote Welsh farmland.

A five-mile course was laid out and Nicoll had hoped for another top-10 finish, but a prop shaft failure with two laps to go saw him drop down to 22nd.

For round three, Nicoll travelled to Minehead in Somerset to compete on a track which was fast and flowing, with steep hills on the side of Exmoor National Park.

The weekend started badly when, after scrutineering, a noise was heard from the Mattseratti, and as a result the service team of Bev Randall, John Randall, Andrew Nicoll and Harry Nicoll had to change the front differential.

After this, the day went well apart from minor issues as they finished 13th overall. After three rounds of the AWDC Championships Nicoll and navigator Kirstie Randall, are eighth overall in the eight round championship.