WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP SECURES MULTIPLE R5 JUNIOR PRIZES
Hyundai R5 and M-sport rally tests are among the prizes for the relaunched Welsh Rally Championship junior category.
For Under 23s, it is £35 to enter the class or £60 for a crew to take part in the eightround series which mostly shares the same stages as the BTRDA calendar.
The winning driver will receive a test in an R5 with Philip Case Rally Sport in Ireland, while the winning co-driver will be imbedded with M-sport on an official test with WRC2 works driver Gus Greensmith, including navigating alongside him. The drivers will also receive advice and tuition through the year on things like car set-up.
The series has already announced a host of updates, including the addition of Irish pacenote provider Killian Duffy and British Championship winning co-driver Craig Parry to create notes and give preevent advice on the roads.
Parry co-drove for Greensmith before a career ending injury in Germany last year and has organised the M-sport prize, while Duffy has linked the championship up with Case.
“With Gus, I had two years co-driving for him in the WRC,” explained Parry.
“After the accident and me retiring from the sport, it’s impacted on us both fairly hard. With the prize and everything we’re trying to do, it’s a great incentive, and he is aware of how difficult it is to move up through the sport. He said he’d do whatever he could to help.”
Case added: “I know Killian and Craig, Killian asked me about getting involved, and it’s great to give a young driver a chance in an R5 car.
“It’s something maybe we take for granted when you’re working with the cars regularly. You put yourself in the position of a 17-year-old for example, it becomes a big thing. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Championship co-ordinator David Evison confirmed that the series has been trying to create a scheme like this for a number of years.
“There’s some fantastic opportunities for the Under 23s and it’s been something we’ve been trying to do for a while, supporting junior drivers,” he added.
“What can we say about Welsh stages, rallying history starts there. They can use the same roads as the likes of Colin Mcrae and Roger Clark.”