Russell Thompson and Dylan Griffiths have been announced as the two young competitors from this year's Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship to have been awarded the opportunity of a lifetime to join the M-Sport WRC team for Rally Italia in October.
In a continuation of the unique partnership between M-Sport and the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, two under 25 competitors in the championship are getting the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event.
The two co-drivers are elated at receiving such an award. Thompson is co-driver to Jon Greves in a Ford Escort Mk2 while Griffiths is co-driver to Brynli Thomas in a Peugeot 206.
This unique prize will include accommodation and transport in Italy where they will then work as part of the M-Sport team across the rally as Irish aces Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean spearhead the M-Sport challenge in Ford Puma Rally1 cars.
The Welsh championship award winners will get the chance to meet the drivers, co-drivers and key team members and gain an unrivalled insight into how a team at the top of the sport operates.
Thompson, aged 19 from Wetherby in West Yorkshire, has been rallying since 2022 and has also gained extensive experience alongside Jacob Neal in the Mini Rally Challenge.
Griffiths, aged 20 from Holywell in North Wales, has been involved in rallying since he was a youngster with Rhyl and District Motor Club. He competed on his first road rally as soon as he turned 12 and soon became one of the most sought-after road rally co-drivers in the area. He moved to stage rallying for this season and his first stage rally was Rally North Wales in March.
On behalf of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, joint co-ordinator Brynmor Pierce said: "We are truly indebted to Rich Millener and everyone at M-Sport for making this amazing prize available. It really is a unique opportunity for these two young co-drivers to learn so much about rallying at the top of the sport. I think we have two very worthy recipients of this special award."
