World dream come true for champ Guy
DURHAM driver Guy Wilks was lying 13th overnight as the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship kicked off in Barcelona.
The former double British Rally Champion and former WRC driver has entered the series at the wheel of a Volkswagen RX Polo, with backing from LOCO Energy Drink and Karting North East.
Wilks has acquired the exJohan Kristoffersson Supercar which helped the Swede finish runner-up in last year’s drivers’ standings.
And he has arrived at the opening round in Spain as the only permanent British driver in the series.
His decision to take the RX route comes after he lined up for five World RX events over the past couple of seasons.
In 2015, he reached the final of the British round at Lydden Hill but was denied a podium due to a technical problem.
“To get an opportunity to do a full World Championship is something I’ve always wished for,” said Wilks, who will enter as an independent entry.
“To compete in a car that finished second in the championship last year adds pressure but is the ingredient that can make it realistic for me to mix it at the top, even though the bar in World RX is getting raised year on year.
“I want to thank LOCO energy drink and Marc Blackburn for this opportunity. I’m going to give it absolutely everything and 2017 is going to be an awesome journey!”
With names such as rally legends Petter Solberg and Sebastien Loeb in the entry list as well as cult American hero Ken Block, Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud and sons of famous fathers, Timmy Hansen, Kevin Hansen and Niclas Gronholm, it’s going to be no easy task for Wilks.
The 36-year-old, who is the owner of Karting North East, said he plans to begin beaming the World RX action to visitors at the centre over the course of the year.
“We are planning on showing the live action from the various rounds on big screens at our KNE venue, so hopefully we’ll get people coming along and sampling the various activities we have available on site, as well as catching up with the World Rallycross Championship action from around the world.”
The season began in Spain yesterday, with the Durham driver ending the first session in 10th position.
But it wasn’t such an easy ride as the cars headed out for the second qualifying session, and Wilkes ended the session – and the day – in 13th spot.
He was due back out this morning for qualifying three, followed quickly after by qualifying four, and he will need to be in the top 12 at the end of the final session if he wants to reach the semi-finals, with the hope of progressing to the final later in the day.