.....as a Star of the Future

Up and coming Welsh rally star Kevin Davies will tackle the Panaround Stages Rally next weekend, opening round of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship 'Stars of the Future' series.  Davies will also have two new 'team members' to consider for the event - one, a brand new MG ZR 1400 car, and the other, support from the Wales Motorsport Initiative's Performance Engineering Training Program (PETP).Davies is already benefiting directly from the support offered by the PETP, who are funded by the Wales Motorsport Initiative.  The 20 year old from Llanfihangel-ar-Arth near Llandysul is currently combining his rallying with a course at Ceredigion Training in Aberystwyth, where Kevin is increasing his working knowledge of automotive vehicles and components.  Davies will help promote the efforts of the PETP and their training initiatives by attending a series of seminars to help encourage more young people to take advantage of the schemes this year.Kevin's form has been outstanding so far, in this, his first season in the sport.  The Welshman has been contesting the Silkolene 1400 National Rally Championship and currently holds a strong lead in the 'A5' category, after a hat-trick of wins so far this year, on just three rallies!Davies will now make a one-off appearance in the MG, run by Geoff Jones Motorsport of Cemmaes Road.  It will be Davies' first outing in the car after using GJM's Nissan Micra Kit Car to great effect so far this year with Llandysul's Emyr Jones alongside.The Panaround Rally forms part of the International Rally Of Wales, and is based not far from the Geoff Jones Motorsport HQ, in the historic market town of Dolgellau.  From there, Davies will tackle some of the all time classic Mid Wales forestry stages, including the legendary Dyfi, Gartheiniog and Pantperthog forests.  The hilly stages are some of the most demanding in Wales, and Kevin will be looking to perform well, despite tough opposition in the Stars of the Future category.Kevin is keen to make the most of the opportunity at the weekend:'Its great that we are able to help promote the activities of the Wales Motorsport Initiative and their Performance Engineering Training Program' said Kevin.  'Its been of great benefit to me already with my studies, so its great to be able to try and promote it to a wider audience through our participation on the Panaround Rally.  The MG ZR 1400 is also a completely new experience for me, especially having driven the Micra recently, but I'm confident that I can take to the car well enough, and that we can give a good account of ourselves.  Geoff (Jones) knows the forests better than anyone, so there's no doubt that we will not be short of well meaning advice before the rally.  Hopefully, with a bit of luck, we can do well in the 1400 class and give a good account of ourselves.  Its my first time in these forests so there will be plenty of quick learning to be done I think!'Davies continues to be supported by EXL Windows, David Harries and Co. Accountants, Eden Tours, and Gary Jones Motorsport Photography.