RALLYING brothers Michael and Graham Shiel are enjoying the sweet taste of success six years after they were left disabled in an horrific accident. Michael, aged 34 and Graham, aged 33, who were born and raised in Bolton, had been competing in a rally in Wales in 1989 when their Astra hit a concrete bridge. "We went from 70mph to 0mph in three feet," said Michael.

The brothers were so badly hurt with their legs and ankles crushed that they spend a month in hospital, 18 months on crutches and are now both registered disabled.

The disaster looked like the end of a promising rally career - with Michael driving and Graham navigating the pair had previously been British Road Rally Champions of 1987 in the 1300cc class.

Michael is not sure whether it was foolishness that made them want to climb back into a rally car but they did and recently they amazed the motor racing world by coming third in the semi-professional Tour of Mull rally.

"Luckily were can't remember the accident so we work on the principle that the faster you go the less you will remember it," joked Michael.

The achievement is even more mind boggling when you realise that Michael's disability means his foot points at 90 degrees to normal and when he first got back in the car it kept getting trapped under the brake pedal!

"My feet are quite twisted but I can just about manage to press the pedals," said Michael."

The Shiels' parents Richard and Barbara still live in Chorley Old Road, Bolton but Michael, a computer systems manager, is now based in Clitheroe with his wife and two children and Graham flies in from Germany, where he manages a golf course, to compete in rallies with his brother.

The brothers' standard Astra is sponsored by Kirkby Central and Halfords but there are no concessions made to their disabilities and Michael admits their third place in Mull, ahead of an ex-world championship Nissan Sunny car and just 75 seconds behind the winners "raised a few eyebrows."

"It is really hard to believe. We just felt ecstasy combined with disbelief," said Michael.

Michael is now hoping to build on the achievement and is trying to raise the £25,000 sponsorship he will need to compete in national tarmac rallying with his other co-driver Carl Swinnerton next year.

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