Crash claims media team on Colin McRae Forest Stages

The  Castrol  /  ProSpeed  team  succumbed  to  wet  and  treacherous  conditions  on  the  hills around Perth when Sky Sports presenter Tony Jardine and his guest co-driver, Motor Sport Magazine editor Damien Smith, smashed into the rocks on the notorious Errochty test during the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally (Saturday 3 October).

Smith was competing on the event in order to settle unfinished business, having retired on his rally  debut  with  Jardine  on  the  Swansea  Bay  Rally  a  year  earlier.  The  lure  of  the  famous McRae name drew him to make his return in Scotland.

On a rally in which even newly-crowned Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) Champion Kris Meeke failed to finish, and a crew had to be cut out of their Vauxhall Nova on the first stage of the day, Jardine and Smith were frustrated by disruptions and ever-changing conditions.

Smith said, “After a difficult start to our rally we began to settle down to a good pace on the second stage, Drummond Hill, only for a red flag caused by a rolled Escort Mk II to stop us in our  tracks.  We got back into a rhythm on the next stage only for a fast left-hander to catch Tony out. It was disappointing not to make the finish but once again the ProSpeed team have given me an experience I will never forget.”

Jardine said, “The Colin McRae Stages was a very challenging event, just as the great man himself  would  have  wished.  Damien  had  his  hands  full  trying  to  navigate  and  call  the  pace notes as the scenery and surface changed so rapidly in the pouring rain and team technician Andy Beale had to lower the pressures on our Kumho tyres to give us better grip in the mud.

“During  the  weekend  we  even  got  into  trouble  with  the  law  at  one  point  after  a  couple  of navigational misdemeanours caused us to be escorted back to the service area by two police motorcycle patrol men! I reckon Damien was relieved when we crashed out as his purgatory was over!”

ProSpeed  boss  Olly  Marshall  said  after  the  long  rescue  operation  to  retrieve  the  stricken Castrol Fiesta from the remote Scottish hills late on Saturday night, “Tony doesn’t often crash. He and Damien had finally got into their stride after all the disruptions and they were pushing a bit too hard, as often happens in rallying. We were relieved that they were both uninjured, and the car will live to fight another day.”

The Castrol / ProSpeed team will be back in action on the Cheviot Rally when Tom Cary, from the Daily Telegraph, resumes his co-driving duties in two weeks time.

National sports journalist overcomes obstacles and last-minute hitches to win class in tough Welsh rally

Tom  Cary,  Formula  One  correspondent  for  the  Daily  Telegraph  newspaper,  achieved  an amazing first-in-class finish on his rally debut in the Pro Art Signs Swansea Bay National Rally in Wales on Saturday 18 July.

Teaming up with Sky Sports presenter and rally driver Tony Jardine, Cary from Wandsworth in London, made a startling rookie debut by winning first place in the two-wheel-drive class and finishing  eleventh  overall  as  he  started  his  quest  to  become  a  fully-fledged  internationally licensed co-driver in time for Rally Scotland in November.

Despite a major glitch late on Friday night before the start of the rally Cary managed to keep his  cool  whilst  insurance  wrangles  threatened  a  non-start  for  the  journalist  in  his  vital  first event.  At  the  eleventh  hour  matters  were  resolved  and  reserve  co-driver  Michael  Weeks, Competitions  Manager  of  the  Southern  Car  Club,  was  asked  to  stand  down  as  Cary  once again prepared mentally to start his first rally.

Amazingly  the  new  duo  of  Jardine  and  Cary  found  themselves  fighting for a class win and, despite a puncture which necessitated a rapid wheel change from the new team mates, the Kumho-shod Castrol Fiesta was soon on its way to a podium finish. Driving in the Daily Telegraph-supported ProSpeed team run by Olly Marshall, Tony Jardine was impressed by his new co-driver Tom Cary on his very first event. “Tom has had just four hours of tuition at the Silverstone Experience Centre with an instructor and his mentor World Champion  rally  co-driver  Robert  Reid.  Despite  this  I  was  really  impressed  by  his  general understanding of his complex job and how quickly he got to grips with rally timing, navigation and  pace  note  calling.  I  have  a  very  strong  feeling  Tom  will  become  a  very  competent international co-driver.”

ProSpeed team boss Olly Marshall commented, “Tony has brought quite a few media partners to the ProSpeed team over the years but never has one made such a successful debut as Tom Cary. He not only won the two-wheel drive category, he also won his class and he impressed myself and the team. I hope he can keep this up for the next event in early September – lets hope he can cope with the time gap. It is very rare for us to suffer a puncture, as our Kumho tyres are not only tough but they provide fantastic grip. However, Tony and Tom were really hanging it out over the last two stages and clearly picked up a flint in the undergrowth – I wish Tony would learn to drive more tidily.”

Arai  helmets  rushed  through  a  replacement  crash  helmet  for  journalist  Cary  after  his  initial helmet proved to be too small in size, compressing his forehead. Once he obtained the correct fit, Tom was very comfortable with his new safety kit including his Alpinestars fireproof suit, and seemed to fit instantly into the rally environment.

 Tom Cary said, “I had a great team around me and everything just seemed to gel but it was incredibly hard work - quite unlike anything I have been used to in any other sport. But it was such a thrill I am sure I am going to be able to convey that to our readers – now I’m really up for the next event, the Woodpecker Rally in early September.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography: Mark Simpson / CMWI