Reynolds to BTRDA for the Plains in ex-gronholm Ford Focus WRC
Julian Reynolds will compete in the latest round of the BTRDA – the Plains Rally – in an ex-marcus Gronholm Wales Rally Gb-winning Ford Focus WRC.
The car, which won GB in 2006, has been driven by Guy Smith in the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship and also by Reynolds on the Red Kite, but the Welshman will make his return to the BTRDA with the intent to compete a full championship next year.
“We’re just taking it event by event at the moment,” said Reynolds. “I’m thinking about doing the BTRDA next year and I thought I’d better get back out as I haven’t competed on gravel in a four-wheel-drive car for seven or eight years.”
His last outing came after a third place finish in the ANCRO rally standings in 2008, in a Subaru Impreza S4 WRC.
Reynolds finished second on the Red Kite in February to David Bogie, who was warming up for the British Championship in his Skoda Fabia R5. Reynolds said the BRC had appealed.
“Of course I would have liked to do the BRC but it’s a different budget all together,” he added. “The BTRDA has good events and is similar to the old ANCRO series that I used to compete in.”
Graham Coffey will also return for only his second BTRDA event of the season in his ex-mads Ostberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC, having finished second on the Rally National de la Lys in France two weekends ago with Andrew Roughead on the notes.
Six Wrc-spec cars will line up on the rally in total, in an event that has drawn 160 entries, the highest of any BTRDA event so far this season.