Wales Rally GB is set to be a fitting finale for the debut season of the SJR Hankook team in the British Rally Championship.
And as an added incentive, the team boasts Wales’ top rally drivers Gwyndaf Evans and Stuart Jones who are assured of tremendous home support on the Cardiff-based rally – also the final round of the World Rally Championship.
“2006 has been an amazing season for Hankook as the tyre giant has been raising its profile in the British motorsport world and by working with Gwyndaf and with Stuart we have been able to make a real impact,’’ said Hankook motorsport manager Mike Patterson.
“We were at Wales Rally GB last year supporting three cars and we are delighted to be back on the world stage again with Gwyndaf and Stuart, and looking forward to an impressive end of season event.’’
Mike said that both Gwyndaf and Stuart are confident of success in the three day rally which gets underway in Cardiff on December 1.
Gwyndaf is certainly no stranger to the rally having competed in the event almost every year since the late 1980s and is a real fan of his home event.
“This is always a special event for me with some great results and some non-finishes but always superb rally stages and excellent support from the fans,’’ said Gwyndaf.
He and Stuart have been testing the Hankook tyres ahead of the event and both are confident that the combination of the tyres, Mitsubishi Evo IX rally cars and top class preparation will produce a winning team.
“We have been working hard all year to fine tune the cars and much of our testing has been in Wales so we are confident that whatever the weather conditions we will have the right set-up and tyres to head the times in our class,’’ said Gwyndaf whose co-driver is Huw Lewis.
Young hotshot Stuart is also looking forward to his home event – a rally he has contested just once before.
“After setting a fastest time and leading our last event, the Trackrod Rally, I am really inspired for success on Wales Rally GB,’ said Stuart who will be co-driven by Craig Parry.
