Bicester's Simon Mauger set the fastest stage time in a 1.4 Nissan Micra as Major Motorsport finished second at the Wetherfield Stages in Essex.

Mauger was seeded car No 1 as he was originally due to compete in Dennis Marshal’s Metro 4M4.

However, as the car wasn’t ready, he decided to take the wheel of a Micra.

The first stage proved to be very challenging, the unused roads were extremely slippery.

But a bigger problem was the car windscreen completely misting up due to a problem with the heater.

However, after a quick improvised service involving an ice scraper sponge, copper pipe and duct tape, the crew were ready for stage two.

Although co-driver Steve McNulty was now on windscreen wiping duties as well as reading the maps, the duo continued setting blinding stage time.

That included the fastest overall times as they climbed from fourth on the leaderboard to finish an incredible second overall after a last-stage push to overhaul Mark Jasper in his 2.5 Millington Escort.

Major Motorsport’s other Micra did not fare so well as the car driven by Rob Gilham suffered a broken driveshaft while he was in seventh place.

Dick Mauger and Stuart Andrews were also out in a 2.0 MK2 Escort.

The crew got off to a great start in the tricky conditions to finish in the top 20.