Wandsworth-based Daily Telegraph journalist Tom Cary has finished 37th with co-driver Tony Jardine on his World Rally C hampionship debut in Rally Sweden.

Having battled sub-zero temperatures across 1,879km, Cary was delighted to have navigated his media partner Jardine successfully through such a demanding rally.

As they drove over the finish ramp in Karlstad on Sunday, he said: “When I took up the challenge eight months ago of training to become a WRC co-driver, I had no idea how much work would be involved, and what a phenomenal experience it would be to compete against the best in world rally.

“It is a great feeling to have finished the rally and to have fulfilled my ultimate goal of co- driving at the highest possible level in rallying.

“Also, there aren’t many journalists who can say they have had the privilege of competing alongside Kimi Raikkonen. We even led him at one point!

“In addition, a former World’s Strongest Man, Magnus Samuelsson from Sweden, finished one place ahead of us also on his WRC debut.”

Driving a Subaru Impreza, provided by Subaru Norway, broadcaster and Twickenham businessman Jardine said: “The last stage, Varmullsasen 2, was fantastic but one of the hardest stages of the whole event.

“The snow had been heavily worn away to expose rocks, which caused us a puncture although, up until this point, we hadn’t encountered any problems with our special Pirelli studded tyres.

“We had to crawl downhill for the last 500m of the event before we could change it on the final road section.

“For the last three stages, we had to concentrate on holding off our nearest competitor, Eamonn Boland, and with a 10th between us at one point, we didn’t mess about and just went for it to the finish to hang on to our 37th position!

“Tom has been superb with his pace note calling and full credit has to go to him for taking on such a challenge as WRC.

“Big thanks must also go to Subaru Norway and Arne Berg for arranging the car for us and to our service crew from ProSpeed, who always keep us on the road!”

Olly Marshall, from ProSpeed Motorsport, added: “Tom has been brilliant throughout the entire rally campaign with the Daily Telegraph, and we are all really pleased to see Tony and Tom through Rally Sweden.”

The Pirelli and Doodson Broking Group-backed team completed a total of 21 stages over four days, in sub-zero temperatures.

Ford’s star driver, Mikko Hirvonen, was the winner, finishing 43.7 seconds ahead of Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb.