DESPITE having to drive the last three stages effectively blind', Orpington's Phil Spratt moved up the rankings in the British Rally Championship.

The 25-year-old, who competes in the Stars of the Future' series, was forced to negotiate the latter stages of the Killer' Kielder Forest round without the aid of co-driver Steve Coles as the car's intercom system had failed.

Despite this obvious hindrance, Spratt was still able to steer his Toyota Yaris EVO to a second place finish in the 1400 class, a result which moves him up the rankings to second overall, just four points behind the leader Matt Beebe who drives an MG-ZR.

Spratt said: "It was pretty hairy tearing round tight bends not knowing what might be round the corner. But we managed to keep it together and were more than happy with the final result."

This Friday Spratt will compete in the third round in Scotland.