ITV FORMULA One expert, Calday's Tony Jardine launched his 1998 rally campaign in spectacular style by treating all-comers to a rapid spin around a water's edge rally stage in Canary Wharf.

Along with co-driver Des Kelly, assistant sports editor of The Mirror, Jardine's RAC Insurance Direct and European Aviation sponsored Ford Cosworth, began on the barge 'Leven is Strijd' near Canary Wharf, before moving onto the specially constructed rally stage at the Citybank development site.

However, although work was halted specially for the occasion, hard hats were still required for those who chose to gain some first-hand rally experience at the unique event, which marked the first live motorsport action the complex had ever witnessed. "It's ironic, this is just like the Monte Carlo circuit," said Jardine. "Having to tackle daunting bends around concrete barriers and flying round by the water's edge of West India Docks, certainly reminds me of a Docklands version of Monte Carlo," he added.

Commenting on Des Kelly's first taste of action in the co-driver hot seat, Tony said: "Des certainly has all the right attributes, he wasn't sick for a start!"

Kelly will take the driver's seat for the pair's forthcoming rally campaign, which will culminate in the Network Q RAC Rally in November. "The RAC is one of the World's greatest sporting events and the opportunity to actually take part was too good to miss," said Kelly.

The Mirror, RAC Insurance Direct Rally Team's first competitive rally will be on June 13 when the pairing of Jardine and Kelly take on all comers in the Kerridge National Rally, the fourth round of the 1998 Mintex Championship. "It will be a totally different proposition from today because instead of hitting concrete barriers we will have a lot of trees preventing us falling into the valley below," joked Jardine.

Anyone interested in seeing Jardine's rally car at close hand can visit the Canary Wharf Motor Show (June 27 - July 3) where the Ford Escort Cosworth will be on display for the first three days. The annual show will feature some of the world's most coveted cars, from Rolls Royces, Bentley's and Porsches, to Alfa Romeos, Mercedes, TVR's and Land Rovers.

Sunday also sees the annual Canary Wharf Classic Car Show, when the owners clubs of Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Porsche and Ferrari will exhibit their pride and joys. "Come down and see all these top of the range cars together at the same time in the wonderful surroundings of Canary Wharf," says Bill Gee, organiser of the Show.

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