Marathon rally specialist Andrew Cowan has died in hospital at the age of 82, writes Ken Davies. He was born in December 1936 into a farming family in the Scottish border town of Duns, a friend and neighbour of future F1 world champion Jim Clark, who was the same age and also a farmer. Very much an endurance rally specialist, perhaps Andrew’s most significant rally victories were on the first … [Read more...]
Motorsport
Mardenborough heads Gamer team
Gamer to racer Jann Mardenborough from Cardiff will bring his unique expertise to the World’s Fastest Gamer judging panel during the finals. Mardenborough previously won Nissan’s GT Academy competition, transitioning from Gran Turismo gamer to full-time racing driver in 2011. In his very first year of real-world competition, Mardenborough won the British GT round at Brands Hatch. He … [Read more...]
Jeff Churchill – perennial privateer underdog
One of the most talented amateur rally drivers in Wales, Jeff Churchill, has died aged 76, writes Ken Davies. Often described as the Welsh Roger Clark in the 1960s and 70s, Jeff was a prolific competition driver from the moment he competed in his first event, showing a prodigious and versatile talent behind the wheel, but although he tried road rallies, he was far happier on gravel. Born in … [Read more...]
WRGB 2020 secured as Irish bid flops
Wales Rally GB organiser Motorsport UK says the FIA World Rally Championship will be returning to Wales in 2020. Talks to move it to Irealand next season broke down when agreement couldn't be reached although the global governing body of motor sport, the FIA, has indicated it's not happy with Wales holding onto the event. Appealing to the purists, the UK’s round of the WRC will move back to a … [Read more...]
Tänak tanks to WRGB win in poor conditions
Estonian Ott Tänak gave Toyota its first Wales Rally GB win since 1996 by storming to victory at the gruelling event 3-6 October, delivering his Yaris WRC a scintillating 10 second win over Belgian rival Thierry Neuville. Tänak charged into the lead on the ninth of the event’s 22 stages and would never be headed whilst fastest time on the final Wolf Brenig Power Stage landed him an … [Read more...]
Sam’s skills shine before WRGB
Local schoolboy Sam Scharer aged just 10 from Ysgol Bro Gwydir School, Llanrwst, Conwy, won the nationwide competition to design a striking livery for a sports car at last week's Wales Rally GB. The resulting Toyota GT86 sportscar wrapped in Scharer’s prize-winning sea-themed design was publicly unveiled in Llandudno on the eve of this year’s Wales Rally GB, the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally … [Read more...]
Ogier looks to seventh heaven win in Wales
Sébastien Ogier scents a seventh straight FIA World Rally Championship title – and nobody is better placed than the Frenchman to boost his chances at this week’s Wales Rally GB starting today. No driver has enjoyed more success in Britain than the Citroën Racing star and the five-time winner, who reignited his championship hopes with victory in Turkey last month, reaches the … [Read more...]
New-look WRC in 2020
Japan, Kenya and New Zealand will return to the FIA World Rally Championship for 2020 in a refreshed calendar displaying a more global profile. A decade after it last featured in the WRC fixture list, Japan marks mainstream Asia’s first appearance in the series since then. The addition of Kenya’s iconic Safari Rally, one of global motorsport’s legendary contests, means the WRC … [Read more...]
Electric motor-bike hits 197mph
MADMAX Team Rider Zef Eisenberg raced in to the record books 21-22 September 2019 setting four new motorcycle records at the Straightliners Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme World Speed Records event at Elvington, North Yorkshire on board the Nottingham University Isle of Man TT zero bike. International multiple ACU Motorbike speed record holder and self-proclaimed ‘Speed Freak’ Zef … [Read more...]
Evans returns from injury to fight for WRGB win
Having missed the previous three rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship through injury, local hero Elfyn Evans has set his sights on the top step of the podium on his return to action in next week’s Wales Rally GB 3-6 October. The 30-year-old from Dolgellau made a strong start to the year coming close to victory in Corsica before damaging his spine in a heavy landing during … [Read more...]