Mann's hopes for Jim Clark Rally

Mann's Subaru is being rebuilt for the event

David Mann and co-driver Alun Cook go to Scotland for Mann's first Jim Clark National Rally this Saturday.

Mann, a former National Rally Championship winner, will hope his rebuilt car can shine after a fireball crash in the Manx Rally on 11 May.

Mann is ninth in the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, and the Norfolk mushroom farmer hopes the car will be ready.

"We have to finish this rally and all the others or the championship is gone," he said.

'Completely new'

Mann's Subaru Impreza has been undergoing intensive repair work in the build-up to the rally at the Nortech Motorsport garage of Stuart Hall.

"I try not to think of how much the repairs will cost but Stuart is confident they will get everything back together again in time for scrutineering on Friday.

"We go up to do a slow recce of the route on Thursday but don't need the rally car for that."

The rally, based in Kelso, is a first for Mann, who has been competing since the late 70s.

"I've never done the rally before, although Alun did it a few years ago with the late Tony Davies.

"I'm struggling to think of the last time I did a rally that was completely new to me in Britain," he added.