A HUDDERSFIELD rally team have gained their best ever result in the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally.
Navigator Paul Round, 46, and driver son Mark, 26, finished the 17-day rally yesterday in 28th place.
The duo were just eight places behind Scottish rallying legend Colin McRae.
But while famous racers like McRae relaxed each night and let their teams mend the cars, `ordinary' competitors like Paul and Mark faced long nights of repairs and hard work.
Which, according to Paul's wife Dawn, makes their success even more special.
She said: "They did really well, bearing in mind they had none of the luxuries the big names had.
"It was the hardest Paris Dakar rally yet, but their best result.
"It has been fantastic for them. They are absolutely ecstatic."
It is the sixth time Paul and Mark have tackled the 5,900-mile race. They have only finished the race twice before.
Mrs Round said the pair's Land Rover/BMW hybrid car, built by Paul himself, had fared very well in the race.
It was among 400 bikes, cars and trucks which started the race - though it was one of just 163 to make it to the finish line after crossing France, Spain, Morocco, the Atlas Mountains and desert terrain and forest tracks in Mauritania, Mali and Senegal.
Paul and Mark are flying home today.
