BTRDA TITLE IN BLACK’S SIGHTS ON NICKY GRIST
Crown within MG ZR driver’s grasp after hat-trick of wins in 2019
Callum Black will contest the next two rounds of the BTRDA with his eyes on the 1400 title, despite not intending to fight for the honour at the start of the season.
Black won his first major title in an MG ZR – taking the British Rally Championship Challenge title in 2010 – and after time in the full British Championship and fighting for the outright BTRDA title, he took a year out in 2018 to focus on his business.
But driving his old MG this year, now owned by Steve ‘Pedders’ Pedlingham, Black has won all three BTRDA 1400 rounds he has contested alongside reigning Welsh Road Rally champion co-driver Michael Gilbey.
Another win on this weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages and a podium on the Woodpecker in August would almost certainly seal the title with the Trackrod to spare.
“To be honest, we didn’t intend to do the whole championship,” said Black. “It’s not my car, it’s Pedders’s car, he bought it off us a couple of years ago.
“It’s been nice going back to the 1400 this year, it’s like going back to my roots. I’m driving within myself at times but it’s a lot of fun.
“Pedders wants to hire the car out so as long as it’s winning it’s adding value. It’s a win-win for everyone really.”
Black’s main rivals are Chris Powell, and his father, Steve Black. The latter is well known in rallying, working for David Sutton for many years and later starting his own business which ran the likes of
Tapio Laukkanen and Alister Mcrae in the BRC in F2 Volkswagen Golfs.
Black is hoping for a return to R5 competition next year, and will look to acquire a new Fiesta R5 after testing the car last month.
While Black has one eye on the 1400 title, Euan Thorburn could seal the overall Gold Star title with victory on this weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages in his Ford Focus RS WRC. The BTRDA counts five of seven rounds, and Thorburn has won all four events so far.
Stephen Petch’s newer Fiesta WRC will likely be Thorburn’s closest challenger for overall honours. Second place in the championship, Scott Faulkner, and impressive Hillman Avenger driver George Lepley in third are both on the entry list.