BASINGSTOKE Motor Club members Jeff Brown and Chris Pratt saw their season come to an abrupt end at the Grand Pier Rally in Weston-super-Mare, their car being badly damaged after ending up on its roof.

Brown was driving his Vauxhall Chevette, nicknamed Greebo, at the event, which used the seafront and three venues around the town over two days.

After recording competitive times on Saturday’s seafront stage, Sunday saw Brown and co-driver Pratt post the second fastest time on the first run through the Kewstoke Toll Road.

The stage was used four times in the morning and it was the third run that was to be the crew’s undoing.

Less than 500 metres into the stage, Overton-born Brown was caught out by a sharp left corner and hit the opposite bank, flipping the car onto its roof.

While both crew members were fine, the car was badly damaged.

Brown said: “It was a simple error. I was slightly too wide going into the corner and there wasn’t enough room to recover.

“It’s one of those motorsport incidents that you often get away with, but not this time!”

Talking about the car, Brown added: “The roll cage did its job and kept us safe, but it was a hefty shunt and the shell is badly damaged.

“I think it will straighten, but Chevettes are quite rare these days so I’ll struggle to get chassis components and panels like the roof.

“Apart from the time it will take, it won’t be a cheap repair, so we’ll be sidelined until next year. Our sponsors are very supportive, but I still have to save up to fix it.”

It had been hoped that the car, which is supported by Whitchurch-based Pyrotastic Fireworks, would be able to compete in six more rallies this year, as well as appearing on the club’s stand at the Festival of Transport in May and other promotional events.