Liam Clark and Jack Bowen are the two young contenders from this year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship who have won the chance to work with the M-Sport World Rally Championship team on Rally Japan in November.
In a partnership between the Welsh championship and M-Sport, the leading junior driver and co-driver after the third round of the championship season are being invited to join the M-Sport team to work as a weather crew on Rally Japan in November.
Clark and Bowen will have a unique opportunity to see how the M-Sport team works on an event, the chance to learn from team professionals and meet the current M-Sport drivers and co-drivers. Accommodation with the team and travel whilst at the event is included.
This unique prize has been developed to help promote young competitors and there is a tremendous synergy in that the prize will be awarded following the event supported by former World Rally champion co-driver Nicky Grist. M-Sport, of course, has an impressive record of success in Wales over some of the world's finest gravel special stages.
Clark, now 25-years old from Skipton in Yorkshire, says that it is a remarkable prize. "It's nice as a young driver or co-driver, especially when you're putting the money in yourself, to actually get something in return," said Clark. "It's brilliant and I think more championships should be looking to do something like this. I'm sure the chance to work with M-Sport is going to open my eyes. It's the preparation that goes into a rally beforehand, it's going to be massive."
Clark had a scare on the Nicky Grist when his Ford Fiesta Rally2 suffered water pump failure. "That wasn't the way that we wanted to finish the round that was going to decide whether we got to go on his trip," admitted Clark.
"We hope to do the next Welsh round, the Woodpecker, and then see how we get on from there. The points are still open and we'll try and complete the season and relieve Matthew Hirst of his title!"
Bowen, meanwhile, is a rising star in the co-driver ranks who turned 25-years old in early June. He is one if the UK's busiest co-drivers and contested 23 rallies last year. This season he has been scoring PWRC points alongside Robert Gough in his historic specification Ford Escort Mk2.
Rich Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said: "M-Sport has a rich history of developing younger talent, but that development shouldn't necessarily be confined to just focusing on the driving roles. There are many other aspects to becoming professional drivers at the top of their sport. This prize offers the chance for two motivated and upcoming stars to join us on a WRC event to understand how much information is gathered and passed to the crews to operate at the top level of the sport. I hope the experience will give them a competitive edge as they go forward in their careers.''
Championship co-ordinator Bryn Pierce said: "We delighted to confirm Liam Clark and Jack Bowen as winners of this amazing prize. I'm sure it will be a truly memorable trip and an unrivalled chance to learn about how a top team goes about a round of the World Rally Championship."
Awards within the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship include the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers, Hockly Motorsport awards for 2WD and 1400cc and the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge for drivers and co-drivers who have not finished in the top 10 overall on any round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship or any equivalent status championship event. The Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship remains dedicated to helping develop young rally talent and with the support of OnThePaceNote and Restruct, the under-25 category continues to grow.
The remaining schedule for the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is:
4 Aug 30 Woodpecker Stages
5 Oct 25 Cambrian Rally
6 Nov 8 Wyedean Rally
Championship registration is now open and is available via: https://wnrc.wamc.org.uk
Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship. Tel 07778 547918. For enquiries about the championship, please contact Bryn Pierce via e-mail:
