Bob Fowden is celebrating 40 years in rallying this year and far from slowing down the popular Llanelli-based driver is upping the game in 2018.
He’s eyeing the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship in his ex-works Comline Auto Parts/NGK-backed Subaru Impreza WRC S11.
Fowden began his long rallying career in 1978, driving a Mini on forest events. Impressive early performances soon attracted the attention of John Davenport, the British Leyland Team Manager, which allowed Fowden to upgrade to an ex-works Triumph TR7, in which he started to contest Tarmac rallies – winning the first Mewla Stages in 1982.
An ex-works Rover 3500 Vitesse followed, with many more victories on Epynt until the big car began to show its age and was replaced in 1988 with a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.
This led to hugely successful forays in Britain, Ireland and Europe, followed by a spell in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and then, in 2015, the first of several Subaru Imprezas, which Fowden Motorsport has since become synonymous with.
| As last year, Fowden will drive an ex-Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza WRC S11 in 2018. For the opening round of the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, the Melvyn Evans Motorsport Tour of Epynt (March 10/11), he will be co-driven by Aled Davies – and aiming for another event win to add to his victory on the rally last year. The Port Talbot MC organised event has already received almost 100 entries. | 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship calendar 10/11 March….Melvyn Evans Motorsport Tour of Epynt 11/12 May….Manx National Rally 9 June….Rally van Wervik 21 July….Carryduff Forklift Down Rally 25/26 August….Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally 27/28 October….Keldine Autos Cheviot Stages Rally |
Fowden will also be attempting to win the JD Tyres Welsh Tarmacadam Championship for a record fifth time, with that challenge beginning with the Rali Cwm Gwendraeth at Pembrey on February 4.
Bob will have son Paul co-driving on that event, and the family duo will be hoping to repeat their 2017 event win. Fowden said, “As my former co-driver Paul Wakely cannot be with me for 2018 due to increased business commitments, I have a number of top co-drivers alongside me for the new season. My good friend Aled Davies will co-drive for me on the Tour of Epynt, and the others are similarly familiar names that we’ll announce as the season progresses.
“The co-drivers are no strangers to top asphalt rallying, so we’ll not be springing any surprises in the new partnerships I’m sure, but I hope to be able to spring a few surprises on the events!”
