The newest scheme to develop the next generation of British rally stars, Junior Rallying, will be exhibiting at next week’s Race Retro show at Stoneleigh. Junior Rallying will be present in a special feature at the show, designed to encourage young hopefuls into a career in motorsport.
Response to the concept, where aspiring rally drivers begin their formal training program at 14 years of age and progress through actual competition in Latvia from 15, has been excellent. The first rally test day, which is the beginning of Phase 1 of the three phases of the Junior Rallying programme, attracted a full complement of candidates, who were put through their paces and assessed by the scheme’s instructors at the Gaydon Heritage Motor centre. They will then progress to formalised training to equip them with the skills required to begin actual competition, overseen by Chief Instructor Gwyndaf Evans.
Junior Rallying will be exhibiting at Race Retro, alongside other schemes created to inspire young motorsport drivers and give them a route into competition. Schemes such as T-Cars and the 750 Motor Club’s SaxMax challenge allow drivers from 14 years of age to compete on racetracks around the UK, developing their skills and experience as they go.
Rallying has always proved more difficult for younger drivers to access though, due to the lack of appropriate licences and the eventual need to drive on public roads for multi-venue stage events. However, the exclusive agreement between Junior Rallying and the Latvian Automobile Federation means that British rally drivers can obtain their Latvian motorsport license from the age of 15 years and hence, begin actual competition from that age.
Junior Rallying manager Gemma Price explains why it will be present at Race Retro; “The creation of the junior feature at this year’s Race Retro show is an excellent idea, to demonstrate to younger motorsport fans how they can get started in the sport.
“There are several options available for circuit racing, whether that’s on a traditional circuit or grasstrack events. However, we offer the only route into actual competition for young rally drivers and therefore, it was essential that we take part in this year’s show.
“It’s encouraging to see the motorsport industry actively assisting young drivers to get started in the sport and we are delighted to be at this year’s show for the full three days, demonstrating how young drivers can get started in the world’s most dramatic form of motorsport.”
As it did at the official launch of the scheme at January’s AutoSport International show, Junior Rallying will be present with the full compliment of staff, including Manager Price and Technical Manager Peter Gladstone. It will also have two of the figureheads for the scheme in attendance, to explain first-hand exactly how the scheme works.
Welshman Tom Cave already a season of competition in Latvia under his belt, partnered by Price and is about to begin his 2008 campaign in the Latvian national Rally Championship, which forms phase 3 of Junior Rallying, the culmination of the three-year programme. Up and coming driver, 15 year-old Conor Flynn will be taking part in this year’s MiniSprint championship, based on one-day rallies and which forms phase 2 of the Junior Rallying Programme.
The Race Retro show takes place at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry from 14 – 16 March and Junior Rallying will be in Hall 1, on stand F24.
