Skeleton Gold medallist Amy Williams overcomes adversity to finish trying event in Scotland, making it three in a rowAmy Williams, co-driver for Sky Sports News F1 analyst Tony Jardine, made it three finishes in a row after the testing Colin McRae Forest Stages in Aberfeldy, Scotland (5 October). The duo finished 12th overall out of the two wheel drive cars and also gained a 2nd in class award.
Despite the success it proved to be an ardent test for Williams, who revealed: “This was the toughest challenge of the journey so far. I tried to remain calm, but inwardly I was on edge. We already had a tight schedule with events and filming followed by 6.00am start Saturday. The rally stages were fast, tight and twisty with a surface like ice, it was all I could do to try and find my place on the pace notes. Add navigation issues and a timing discrepancy whilst traversing stages that resembled driving on the moon, it made for a really tough, trying day. I was relieved to finish!”Despite the personal struggles Williams encountered, there was a near miss that thankfully the Olympic co-driver was blissfully unaware of. This, coupled with a severe tyre attack, could have made for dire consequences. Tony Jardine explains: “On the fifth stage we were blasting along flat out in fifth gear, when a large deer leapt straight across our bows. It was a flash of colour just inches in front of the car, I have no idea how we missed it! On top of that, back at service the team also found a long slice gouged out of the tyre by the sharp bedrock on the road- fortunately for us the Kevlar reinforced Kumho tyre wall kept the air in.” All six stages were slippy, and some were particularly treacherous, lined by logs with piles of rocks inside the forest tracks, however the EuroRallye Type R Honda Civic proved to be equal to the job. The ProSpeed team, led by Olly Marshall who was overseeing the operation, also took over the mentoring of Amy in the absence of Daniel Barritt, who was competing in Rally France this weekend.Amy’s fellow Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy, also enjoyed his time at the Scottish rally. He completed all stages ahead of the field in the course car, alongside rally legend and father of the late world champion Colin McRae, Jimmy.The next challenge for Williams and Jardine is the Cambrian Rally (12 October). This rally will be held in the renowned North Wales forests, an area which will also be used in parts, during Wales Rally GB. ProSpeed will be introducing a new car, the Mitsubishi Evo 9, a four wheel drive turbo-charged rally machine which will be sure to test the skeleton champ and her driving partner Jardine. The pressure is on as Amy needs to complete this rally for her final signature, in order to make it to her ultimate goal of competing in Wales Rally GB.
