Being stoned by Moroccans in her first ever car rally has not stopped Shirley Greenway from putting together an impressive performance.

Shirley's navigator, Andrew Johnson, 54, was hit on the head by a stone hurled through the open widow of the Rover on a Sahara desert stage.

They are competing in the 10,000 kilometre Brooklands to Agadir rally in a Rover MGZR.

Shirley, 41, who was brought up in Keighley but now lives in Portugal was in sixth place for much of the race and slipped three places after a hair-raising incident in the mountains of Morroco.

Yesterday (Thursday) Shirley was lying ninth after hitting a bank of rocks and coming to rest with a rear wheel of the bright green car hanging over a cliff edge.

It took her and Andrew 20 minutes to free the car, which was jammed by large boulders. They then made a storming run to the finish.

Only five cars out of 70 competing have so far dropped out.

She has spoken every day by tele-phone to her father and mother, Frank and Eileen Greenway of Steeton.

Mr Greenway said: "They have had some bother in Morocco. A stone was thrown at the car and it hit Andrew on the head scratching his face and neck.

"When they were in the hills on a stage some locals had blocked the road with stones, which meant they had to stop and clear it away.

"I suppose the world troubles might be part of the problem.Other people have had stones thrown at them, but she is not worried and the car is running well," said Mr Greenway.

Shirley's reports home have told of rough roads and mountain stages with frightening sheer drops at the side of the road.

The team spent Saturday in Marrakesh, Sunday was a rest day and by Monday they had reached Agadir ready for the return journey.

During Monday's stages she was second fastest overall and hopes to maintain her high position until the final leg and finish back in Brooklands on Friday October 19.

Shirley is following in the family tradition. Her parents and brothers Frank and Julian have all competed in motor sports.

But this rally is Shirley's first competitive event.

Competitors in the World Cup Rally have driven through France and Spain and into Morocco, turning round in Agadir for the return journey, which will take them through Portugal and France.

She heard about the rally in Portugal and after making approaches to Rover in Portugal was offered the chance to take part.

The 20-day rally has 82 time-controls, and 28 competitive test-sections covering more than 6,000 miles.

Last night they were stqying in the Moroccan city of Fez and after 10-days in north Arica they drive up through Portugal, using some of the classic stages of the old Portugese Rally, provides a sting in the tail which could have a major final influence on the leaderboard.

The event revives the long-distance World Cup Rallies of the 1970s, will be televised in four TV programmes in the UK.

Stirling Moss flagged the cars off from Brooklands on September 30th and the finish is at Brooklands on October 19.

Drivers from as far as America and New Zealand are taking part.