JUNIOR 1000 CHAMP LEWIS STEPS UP TO BTRDA IN ’19
Newly-crowned Junior Formula 1000 champion Eddie Lewis will head straight to the BTRDA next season in a Vauxhall Adam.
Lewis wrapped up the F1000 title at Anglesey three weeks ago aboard his Citroen C1, and has set his sights on the forests of the BTRDA, as the Junior championship is done on airfield and circuit events with no notes.
Four second-place finishes in the middle of the season spurred on the Nottingham driver, who had to give up on his Ford Fiesta at the start of the year as it was too heavy to compete effectively in the series.
“We went and got the job done, we know what we needed to do, it was nothing too special really,” said Lewis of his title year.
“I could have won and were leading two or three events throughout the year. But we lost out as I didn’t take the risks that they took because they needed to win the rallies.”
Lewis follows the lead of previous champion Ewan Tindall into the BTRDA, who came close to taking the Fiesta ST Trophy in his first full season on gravel.
Lewis has had the Adam all year, and has tested it with European Under 27 champion Chris Ingram and treble British Rally champion Mark Higgins giving tuition. He also co-drove in the car on Rally North Wales.
The 16-year-old turns 17 in January making him eligible to compete in senior events, providing he passes his driving test.
“It’s a lot of people’s dream to compete at World Championship level, especially mine, the next year or two will give me an indication of whether I have the skill or not, fighting with the big boys,” he added.
“We’re going to try and do as much as possible and try and get as much experience as possible in one year.”
Lewis will take the Adam Cup Car to Norway early next year to get tuition from legendary coach John Haugland, missing the Cambrian Rally, the BTRDA season opener.