EAST Lancashire crews failed to make their mark in the Legend Fires North West Stages.

The clutch of Ross Butterworth and Kevin Clark’s BMW Compact went with a bang on the start line of the opening stage, then David Wallbank and Mike Scrimgour retired early on Saturday when their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5 developed fuel problems.

Ross Miller and Ian Rayner didn’t get much further, their service crew was unable to solve a misfire on their Peugeot 206, so that was them out.

Michael Judson and Paul Blanchard were the next local crew to retire when the gearbox of their Vauxhall Astra expired.

Russell Morgan and Martin Kenyon had been on target for both a class win and a top 10 finish until the alternator belt snapped, forcing their Ford Escort Mk1 into retirement at Weeton.

Mark and Ed Bentley also retired their Subaru Impreza here while Thomas Preston and Jamie Forrest ended their rally on Blackpool Promenade when their BMW M3 Coupe’s propshaft snapped.

John Deegan and Phil Merrills’ Honda Civic Type-R was forced out with two stages to go.

It was a better day though for Oswaldtwistle exile Phil Peak who co-drove Derek Blyth to 16th overall in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6.