DETHRONED Rallye Sunseeker champion Marcus Dodd believes his engine failure cost him “a guaranteed win” last Saturday.

The Poole-based driver headed for stage six in Somerley Park with a massive 25.3-second lead over eventual winner Will Nicholls.

But Dodd and co-driver Andrew Bargery were left dejected after their cam belt came off on the approach to the start line, ending their rally.

The reigning national champion was fortunate that neither of his main title rivals, Steve Perez or Paul Bird, made it to the finish line in Bournemouth Square.

This was only a small plus point, though, for Dodd and he believes Nicholls would never have triumphed had his car kept going.

He said: “I wasn’t worried about Will because he couldn’t beat me in a straight fight – it always requires an engine failure for him to win.

“I knew he would be somewhere in the top five but if Steve, Paul and myself had finished, he would have been fourth.

“He didn’t beat any of our times from last year, whereas we were quicker than in 2008 on every one we did, which was pleasing.

“We were beating him on time and to be honest, Will Nicholls has never beaten me on time anywhere in the country.

“But he got to the finish, we didn’t and that’s rallying unfortunately.”

Dodd’s cam belt troubles did not cause any lasting damage.

But the six-time Sunseeker winner and firm favourite going into the rally admits it proved just how unpredictable the event can be.

He added: “Everything was going really well and that was almost a guaranteed win, but nothing in motorsport is guaranteed.

“Unfortunately, the person who put the engine together had left one of the cam wheels slightly loose.

“It fell off just before stage six and the cam belt jumped off, and that was about it – end of rally.

“We were about to pull forwards to the start line, when the cam belt fell off and the engine stopped there and then.

“It just goes to show you can’t spend £500,000 on a car and expect it to work.”

Despite his premature departure in Somerley Park, Dodd is still determined to add to his record-breaking haul of four national titles.

With Perez and Bird also suffering a weekend to forget, he is ready to get back on course in the Border Counties Rally in Scotland on March 21.

He added: “It was really unusual for the top three to break down, which was a great start to the championship for us.

“All of our main title rivals, which I would worry about, didn’t finish.

“So the next round will be like going to round one again – everyone is in the same boat.”