The first privateer teams have secured their entry to Wales Rally GB. This follows the organisers’ offer of guaranteed places to the first 30 entries received after launch of the Regulations at the end of June. And the entry list already features a number of high profile privateer teams, promising a thrilling competition alongside the World Rally and Junior World Rally Championships, with plenty of British interest too.
Wales Rally GB now includes 240 miles of competitive stage mileage, the maximum allowed on an FIA World Rally Championship event. But the overall time schedule has been reduced so that ‘on event’ costs and time away from home and business are minimised. And for the third year running, the entry fee for amateur crews has been frozen to attract more drivers than ever before.
The privateer teams who enter Wales Rally GB have a real passion for rallying. They usually have full-time jobs and may have families, but still find time to dedicate themselves to this thrilling sport with Wales Rally GB giving them the unique opportunity to compete alongside world class World Rally Championship drivers without even leaving the British shores.
This year’s early entries include:
Rob Gill, DriverRob is a journalist for the Sun newspaper and has become a regular at Wales Rally GB. He has been rallying for four years with his first Wales Rally GB in 2001 when he came 50th. In 2002 he retired due to mechanical gremlins, but in 2003 he finished 35th. So he will be pulling out all the stops to make 2004 a personal best.
Lorna Smith, DriverLorna is 26 and hails from Aberdeen. She works as an analysis engineer for Prodrive. In 2002, Lorna won the North East of Scotland Rally Championship and in 2003, she became the Scottish Ladies Champion. She has also entered the 2004 Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, and has her sights set on the British Ladies Champion trophy and a top three position in the Production Cup Class. Lorna could be well on her way to driving her Subaru Impreza to victory at Wales Rally GB too.
Jimmy McRae, DriverThe father of Colin and Alistair McRae, Jimmy McRae is the head of a veritable rally driving dynasty. He has won the British Rally Championship no less than five times. These victories spanned the 1980s, with the last being in 1988. Jimmy has the bit between his teeth once more, so he will be hoping for the sweet taste of victory at this year’s Wales Rally GB showing the younger drivers just how it should be done.
Pauline Gullick, Co-driver Pauline had her first win in the 1974 Safari, when she scooped the Ladies Award in her Datsun. She was the British Ladies Rally Champion for three successive years, from 1976 to 1978 and continues to give the competition a run for their money. When she’s not rallying, Pauline enjoys a spot of travel. That said her competitive spirit has taken her to second place in Thailand 2003, as well as rallies as far flung as Argentina and China. Pauline will be sitting alongside Jimmy McRae at Wales Rally GB.
John Lloyd, DriverBy day, John is an insurance broker. He has been rallying for six years and entered the 2004 Safari Rally. John follows his passion for rally driving wherever it takes him and in 2003 he entered the Rally of Argentina.
Andrew Coe, Chief Executive Rally GB Ltd, comments, “The privateer teams are what make rallying such a special, exciting and inclusive sport. At Wales Rally GB anyone can enter, driving alongside some of the best drivers in the world. To encourage this participation this year we offered the guaranteed entry for the first 30 applicants and the response has been extremely encouraging.” .
“Our commitment to privateers also includes 100 m2 of designated space at the Swansea Rally Centre at Felindre for every single entry and the creation of the prestigious new British Junior Award. This offers £1,000 for the highest place UK driver born on or after 1st January 1979 bringing further excitement and competitive spirit to the event.”
“This year we are putting these entrants at the heart of the action, bringing them the attention and recognition they deserve. We are in the middle of an already exciting World Rally Championship season, so drivers should make sure they are part of the action at what looks set to be the best Wales Rally GB so far. ”
