DOWN THE PUB
Age: 26 Lives: Sittingbourne Historic rally newcomer
He followed dad Chris into rallying “I grew up going rallying with dad and helping with the cars. I started competing at a young age in autotests and some karting and then saved up enough money to buy my own Ford Escort Mk2. I used dad’s Mk1 a few times and then did a few track days just to get used to the car.”
He’s been rallying for 12 months “I did my first forest event a year ago on the Malton Stages and that was horrible! It was too much in the BDA and I had to look after dad’s car. I’ve done some events in Wales this year in my car and I’ve loved getting on the gravel, it is amazing. I wouldn’t go back to asphalt now.”
The car is strong “My car is a Mk2 with an Alan Sherwood Pinto. It’s Paul Barrett’s old car and he did well in the BHRC with it last year. It’s 100 per cent now and Graeme Standen looks after it. He does a brilliant job. Next up we’re doing the Roger Albert Clark alongside dad and then hopefully we’ll do the BHRC next year: as many rounds as I can.”
Gravel is his surface of choice “I thought I was going to be an asphalt boy, but gravel is the way forward for me. The pace is getting there and I’m doing my best. The car helps me a lot and it is a really good car. This has been my first year and hopefully in a couple of years we’ll get there. I won’t go rallying without dad as it makes me feel more comfortable when he’s there.”
He’ll stay with historics
“I’ve grown up with historics and I love them to bits, so I want to stay there. Eventually I’d like to get a BDG engine for the Escort but for now, the Pinto is perfect. It is amazing for learning. Jane Edgington is co-driving for me and she has been brilliant. She’s got good experience and we get on well, so we can have a laugh as well as go rallying. This is for fun.”
He has a young daughter “I work in construction with dad, managing jobs and running building sites and I do some of my own projects as well. I’m nearly married to Jane and we’ve got a little girl who is two-and-a-half.”