F1 correspondent Byron Young training to co-drive alongside Tony JardineBroadcaster Tony Jardine officially launched the Daily Mirror rally team at Silverstone last week, announcing Byron Young - F1 correspondent to the Daily Mirror - as his new trainee co-driver. Jardine and Young plan to embark on a programme of four national rallies in 2010, with the aim of competing in the world famous Monte Carlo Rally early next year. The Monte Carlo Rally, due to take place on 19-23 January, will be celebrating 100 years since its inception and hosting the opening round of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Journalist Young has a tough training schedule ahead of him in order to qualify as an international rally co-driver in time. Whilst the media pairing’s recent visit to Silverstone’s Experience Centre marked the beginning of Young’s journey to become a fully fledged international co-driver, it also meant he had to sit his BARS (British Association of Rally Schools) written exam to be granted a licence for the national events he is due to tackle between now and December. Silverstone senior driving instructor Jason Sharpe also used the opportunity to take rally hopeful, Young, for a few taster laps of Silverstone’s specially prepared handling stage. Twickenham based Young commented, “I’ve never spent so much time going sideways, it was great fun in the Ford Fiesta at Silverstone and I’m really looking forward to co-driving in the Monte Carlo Rally. It is one of the biggest events in motor sport. I know I’m going to have to work hard to be ready for it next year. I’ve already been speaking to co-driving legend and 2001 World Rally Championship winner Robert Reid, who will be helping to mentor me over the coming months.” Ascot resident Jardine said, “I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a rally car again next month, and competing in the Monte Carlo Rally has always been one of my greatest ambitions. It is renowned for being one of the toughest rallies, and I’m sure the black ice and snow in the Alps can be arduous. It will probably be one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced during my time in rallying. We really have given Byron the ultimate event to make his debut as a world class rally co-driver!”Jardine continued, “Although I can’t yet announce what car I will be driving during this rally campaign, we certainly plan to have preparation and on-event support from the York based ProSpeed team, and we will also have backing from tyre supplier Kumho.”The Daily Mirror rally team’s inaugural event will be the Woodpecker Rally on 4 September, in Ludlow.