A Dawson father-and-son rallying team were back in action at the weekend.

Ben Dawson raced with son, 18-year-old Luke, at the Brands Hatch Stages Rally as they finished 33rd out of 100 starters.

This year marks the 10th anniversary since Ben competed in the London to Cape Town World Cup Rally alongside his late father, Mike, in the event which saw them drive thousands of miles in 30 days.

Mike died in 2019 from a brain haemorrhage, aged 69. But with Luke joining forces with his dad, a new Dawson father-and-son partnership has formed.

They had teamed up in 2020 but the weekend event was the first Ben and Luke had worked at together while working for Halsion - where Luke is an apprentice electrician, while Ben is a senior draughtsman.

They came fifth in the 1400cc-1600cc class.

“It was a bit of an odd weekend but we did all right,” said 42-year-old Ben, who rallied with his dad for 13 years.

“Some of the calibre of some of the drivers has definitely gone up. I did some homework on our times on Monday afternoon.

“I was looking for better but, at the end of the day, it was more about getting back out with all the Covid stuff and dad, and everything else that has gone on. We got a result.

“It was possibly not the result we wanted - but it was a result.”

Ben was, however, pleased with the performance of his co-driver, with the team being sponsored by Halsion at the event.

“To be fair, Luke was phenomenal all day,” he enthused.

“He was very impressive for a young lad. Although he did Brands Hatch two years ago for the first time with me, he was straight on it this time.

“I was very proud of him and I’m sure my old man would have been very proud of him as well.”

Ben’s daughter, 16-year-old Isabella, is now also showing an interest in rallying.

“I started rallying with dad around 2006 and then me and Luke did our first rally in 2020,” said Ben who lives in Selling, which is near Faversham.

“But my daughter now seems up for it as well!

“It’s nice to keep that family tradition going.”

The possibility of the new partnership of Ben and Luke rallying aboard one day has not been ruled out, either.

Ben explained: “We have had a look at a few that might be possible. They are, obviously, very expensive to do.

“But I would like to do a few more bits and pieces with him.

“I am currently rallying with a friend in Belgium, so I would like to do one with Luke out there or maybe in France. But we will see how that pans out.”