Jersey’s youngest rally driver, 17-year-old Ed Fossey has become the Next Big Step Award winner for the 2016 rallying season. The title was announced in front of thousands at the Autosport International Motorsport Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham at the weekend.
Founded to help develop and assist the country’s young rally stars, The Next Big Step Award provides funding, advice and guidance from some of the sports top professionals and support from tyre manufacturer Yokohama UK. Having the scheme’s support is an exciting prospect for the Victoria College student.
“ I am delighted to be the recipient of such a incredible prize. To have the support from Ian Arden and his team as well as a large brand such as Yokohama UK is fantastic,” said a delighted Fossey.
“The support is not only financial as the knowledge and experience from the Next Big Step team is very important as this has allowed me to put an exciting programme together and it will really help me develop as a driver, making the transition from the Junior series into a mixed surface National campaign.”
Graduating from the Kick Energy Junior 1000 Series at the end of 2015, the young Channel Islander showed great promise and pace in his Citroen C1 throughout the year, which caught the eyes of the award judges.
“The objective of the Next Big Step is to develop young talent and channel our resources into a candidate who fits our scheme," explained Next Big Step Founder Ian Arden. Ed has the whole package; he is quick behind the wheel but is also extremely dedicated to the sport. Having to come across from Jersey adds another challenge and we wanted to help him put a good season together.”
“A great part of the scheme is that previous winners stay with us and help the new candidate coming in. We will first of all look to help Ed with testing and getting used to driving on gravel and the challenges associated with it. From then on we will support him throughout 2016 in whatever way we can.”
Yokohama UK have also given Fossey the rubber stamp of approval as they have committed to supplying the Next Big Step Award winner with tyres for his 2016 Championship assault.
“In rallying, the Formula 1000 series is incredibly popular and hugely competitive, producing some very gifted drivers. I am delighted that, in partnership with The Next Big Step, we are able to support Ed from that program up to the BTRDA series, which is one of the UK’s most prestigious rally championships.” Enthused Mark Evans – Head of Motorsport at Yokohama UK.2016 will be a busy year for Ed as he not only steps up to tackle the BTRDA Mixed Surface Championship, the St Lawrence resident will also be taking his final A-Level examinations in the summer before going on to University in September. Fossey will continue to work with the Teenage Cancer Trust and will once again look to tackle his home event, the Jersey Rally in October.
