SEB PEREZ TO MAKE SENIOR RALLY DEBUT
Seb Perez will make his senior rally debut in the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship on the Neil Howard Stages in October, while father Steve could also bring his Lancia Stratos out in the series.
Seb Perez has competed in circuit racing in the Ginetta Junior Championship this year, but still hasn’t decided on whether to commit to racing or rallying. He has competed in the Junior Formula 1000 Championship in the past.
Steve – a two-time BTRDA Gold Star champion – confirmed Seb is undecided.
“I’m going to do selected rounds and so is Seb,” said Steve Perez. “The idea for the first one is that I’m going to co-drive for Seb in either a Suzuki Swift or Renault Clio. He knows the circuit well and we’re considering the Clio Cup next year [part of the British Touring Car Championship support bill] and I wanted him to do something in a frontwheel-drive car. He wants to drive an Escort [Mk2]!”
Perez also confirmed an outing in the MN series – which is open for registrations for its second season – providing he can find a circuit that suits the Lancia’s short-ratio gearbox.
“I’m probably going to get the Stratos out on one or two of the events,” he added. “As long as the straights aren’t too long. We need to keep the noise down on it as well [to pass scrutineering].”
Perez added that he would be taking his Audi quattro S1 – driven by Malcolm Wilson at a demo at Croft earlier this year – and the Stratos to the Group B festival at Wales Rally GB. Seb will drive the quattro with Perez in the Stratos.
Perez has competed on a number of historic events in the Stratos in 2016. He did make a one-off appearance in his ex-markko Martin Ford Focus in the MN championship at Brands Hatch in March, finishing fourth in tricky conditions. ● The Neil Howard Stages opened for entries last Friday. The event filled up in just over 30 minutes.