CIRCUIT RACERS TEAM UP FOR R.A.C. RALLY
Gathercole and Donn swap Tarmac tracks for forest stages
Regular historic racers David Gathercole and Martyn Donn have teamed up to contest the Roger Albert Clark Rally in Gathercole’s Bda-engined Ford Escort Mk1.
Although they’re more at home on asphalt circuits, the pair will take on the challenge of the four-day forest rally and Gathercole says it is a schoolboy dream come true.
As well as racing a range of historic single-seaters and sports-racing cars, Gathercole is a renowned engine builder in historic racing, while Donn has most recently raced a Formula Atlantic Lola T670 and won the Derek Bell Trophy last season.
“I used to watch the highlights [of Rally GB] on the TV as a youngster,” said Peterborough- based Gathercole. “Martyn is out of the same mould. He did a few forest rallies in a Hillman Imp a long time ago. But he’d never co-driven until we did the Woodpecker Rally last month and we got on really well, despite intercom problems and thick dust in places.
“I’ve done eight to 10 rallies over the last couple of years, but nothing on this scale and I’m really looking forward to the Roger Albert Clark. I always thought rallying was totally beyond me and it really does make you realise how much talent the front guys have. The target is just to finish and we’ll try for a steady start on Friday.
“Martyn is just blown away with it and he’s really absorbed by the whole thing. He’s been working really hard on the pacenotes.”