YATES GETS ULSTER UPDATES, ENTERS ERC BARUM RALLY
British rally championship driver wants to fight for title
Rhys Yates will get an updated Skoda engine in time for this week’s Ulster Rally in a bid to re-enter the British Rally Championship title fight.
The Chesterfield driver, 26, finished second on the Pirelli International Rally to open the BRC season, but had to withdraw from the Ypres Rally when co-driver Elliott Edmondson became ill.
That means Matt Edwards leads the standings with a maximum score of 50, with reigning champion Keith Cronin second on 30 points after two third place finishes. Yates is fourth in the standings with 18.
With the Border Counties cancelled at the start of the year due to bad weather, the Ulster, Rally Isle of Man and Wales Rally GB complete a five-event calendar, with Rally GB being a doublepoints offering.
Now Yates has the upgraded engine for his Fabia R5, and is hoping to challenge at the front of the event, which moves across Northern Ireland from Londonderry to Antrim.
“It’s had the upgrade, it gives you a little bit more torque at the bottom end, and it goes to 1800 miles rather than 1200 miles [before it needs an upgrade],” said Yates. “It’s a small difference but it is a notable difference. I’m looking forward to driving it.
“I got Pattersons [pacenotes and video of the stages] just to have a look [at the Ulster] and we did some of the stages on the Circuit of Ireland in 2016.
“I definitely recognise two of the stages, it’s the long one we did on the Circuit in 2016 split into two.
“The stages look mega and it’s good to mix it up. I remember the Ulster last year was similar to the year before as well.”
Yates will be run by CA1 Sport on the Ulster, but has a new co-driver in James Morgan for this event as regular co-driver Edmondson is working on Rally Germany.
His CA1 team-mate David Bogie will not have the upgraded Skoda for the Ulster, although he does have a new Fabia on order.