Tom Cave will be back in action next weekend, as the remainder of his 2009 programme gathers momentum. The 17 year-old from Aberdovey will tackle Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, the final round of the British Rally Championship, before heading back to Latvia for the nation’s flagship event, Rally Latvia.
Since his last event in August, the Richard Burns Memorial Rally, Tom has spent the summer looking into options for 2010, including discussing both programme and car possibilities for the next phase of his career. He was present at RallyDay at the weekend, the foremost rally show in the UK representing the International Rally Drivers Club, where his Group N Ford Fiesta ST was on display. He took the opportunity to speak to several key members of the rally community as well as look more closely at some of the possible options for 2010.
However, with the spectacle of RallyDay over, Tom's thoughts turned to the job in hand and the Trackrod Rally. The final round of the British Rally Championship is based in Pickering in Yorkshire and features some of the UK's most iconic locations.
Tom will be using his own Fiesta, run once again by Davies MotorSport and will be co-driven by Craig Parry, as he was on Rally Poland, where the pair claimed the class win on all but one of the stages they drove competitively. And while Tom isn't familiar with the stages, he is excited about the prospect of once again going up against drivers in the UK version of the one-make Fiesta series.
"I think we'll face some stiff competition," he said. "Drivers like Kris Hall have been very quick all year and we've already done a couple of events against him, such as the Jim Clark and know that he is very competitive. If I can match his times, and some of the other Fiesta drivers, I'll be happy.
"I normally set my own goals before a rally and I think that if we can be competitive against the regulars and get a top three result, I'll be pleased. But of course, if it looks like we could be in a position to do better, then perhaps we'll push a bit harder."
But while he may be able to push, Tom will be mindful that he cannot afford too many risks, since the Fiesta is currently ear-marked for his entry on Wales Rally GB next month, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Tom is looking into alternatives for the event but will need to keep the Fiesta in one piece so that he definitely has a car available for the event.
Once Tom has completed the Trackrod, there will be little more than a chance to pop home, wash his overalls and grab a night's sleep, before he has to pack up again and this time, head back to Latvia, where he cut his rally teeth. He will be contesting the nation's flagship event, Rally Latvia, the following weekend using a locally hired car and is relishing the prospect of returning to the country where he spent two seasons developing the skills which have served him well already.
