World Rally Championship star co-driver, Nicky Grist, mentors Tony Jardine and team ahead of Wales Rally GB assault
TV broadcaster Tony Jardine launched the Daily Mail / Sportinglife.com rally team at Silverstone’s Drive Centre yesterday announcing details of his new co-driver, car and team ahead of this year’s assault on Wales Rally GB (1-3 December) – Britain’s only round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Jardine was joined at the launch by former World Rally co-driver Nicky Grist, who will be acting as a mentor to the team, and in particular Daily Mail F1 correspondent Jonathan McEvoy, who was confirmed as Jardine’s co-driver for this year’s Wales Rally GB.
The event will be McEvoy’s first ever appearance in the World Rally Championship and will provide a real insight into the world of rallying and co-driving for both Jon and readers of the Daily Mail, which was also confirmed as national media partner for the Daily Mail / Sportinglife.com rally team. Nicky Grist - one of the most experienced and knowledgeable co-drivers in the world, winning 21 world rallies during an illustrious career (17 alongside Colin McRae and 4 co- driving for Finnish World Rally legend Juha Kankkunen) - will work closely with McEvoy, passing on valuable tips in an effort to groom him for World Championship success.
Speaking at the launch, McEvoy commented, “I must need my head testing co-driving for Tony Jardine, but this is an unbelievable opportunity to experience the World Rally Championship first hand. What’s more, in Nicky Grist I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. Picking up tricks of the trade from one of the biggest names in rallying will provide a real insight, and hopefully stand us in good stead come November. I can’t wait.”
Jardine and McEvoy’s chance of success will also have been boosted after the duo unveiled the M-Sport Ford Fiesta works rally car they will be competing in for the six rallies leading up to, and including, this year’s Wales Rally GB. The car, owned and sponsored by Castrol, will run on Kumho tyres; while ProSpeed will provide on-event support, led by team principal, Olly Marshall.
Following a photocall, attending media were also given the opportunity to jump in the co- driver’s seat themselves and experience a couple of high speed laps around Silverstone’s specially prepared rally stage with Jardine.
Jardine commented, “This is the 14th time I’ve entered the Wales Rally GB, or Britain’s equivalent round of the World Rally Championship, but this year’s package makes it one of the most exciting I’ve ever competed in. Castrol has given us a fantastic works rally car in the M-Sport Ford Fiesta; my co-driver, Daily Mail F1 journalist Jon McEvoy, is being mentored by Nicky Grist - one of the best co-drivers world rallying has ever seen; and we’ve got five rallies, prior to Wales Rally GB to prepare and get to know each other as a team.” Nicky Grist added, “Jon (McEvoy) is in for a real treat.
Wales Rally GB is one of the toughest rallies on the world circuit, with some really challenging stages, but the fans are fantastic and the atmosphere’s superb. The role of the co-driver is often underestimated; rallying’s a real team effort and Tony (Jardine) and Jon will have to work well together if they’re going to do well.“ Jardine concluded,
“I overheard Jon saying HE must be mad co-driving for ME – I’m the one going into the rally with a novice co-driver, so some may consider me to be the mad one! On a serious note, this will be an exciting few months for the new Daily Mail / Sportinglife.com rally team and we can’t wait to get started.”
