Kent's Junior Rally Driver Stefan Davis came so close to gaining the helping hand he is crying out for this week. Stefan entered the Prospeed Scholarship a search for "one of the best drivers of today" back last year. From the 250 entrants Stefan managed to be chosen to come through two rounds and then into the final 6 of the competition. The final was judged by some of the best in the sport Junior World Driver Olly Marshall, two times British Rally Champion Johnny Milner, experienced co-driver Craig Thorley, and Rally PR Specialist Larry Carter. The competition overran by 2 hours because the judges could not agree on a winner.In the end however Stefan unfortunately so narrowly missed out on his dream opportunity a £30,000 support package. Stefan missed out to fellow Peugeot 205 1.9 Scholarship competitor Tom Curtis, which in itself shows the world the level of competition within this championship. Prospeed Motorsport MD Olly Marshall said afterwards "I couldn't believe how close it was between them all and I have to admit, choosing a winner was one of the hardest things we've had to do in our lives." "it really could have been anyone of the six and hopefully, they'll all continue with their careers as they have all got so much potential. I wish we'd had six prizes available!"
"I really built a plan around winning this prize, it would have freed up the time I desperately needed and I could have focused more on rallying and gaining sponsorship for my further career rather than working flat out to just to keep the bank manager from my door" Said the 25 year old.
It's easy to see the disappointment in the young man's eyes but there is also a strange fire of determination that seems to have doubled. In fact one of the judges 2 x British Rally Champion Johnny Milner also suffered the same fate earlier in his own career in a similar competition the Shell Scholarship, as did also the British World Rally Champion Richard Burns, is Stefan from the same breed?
"I can't give up" said Stefan, "I can't give you a logical explanation either, but my heart simply won't let me". Stefan as had a gruelling time in rallying and for some people the easy path just isn't laid out for them. He suffered numerous mechanical problems in 2004 which simply prevented getting the forest miles and experience and has put him in real terms a year back though he did achieve some impressive results when the car held out. With the financial weight and still a lack of any financial support for 2005 Stefan seems to be on borrowed time and now running out of options.
