Rally Hopefuls Fight it Out for MG Drive of a Lifetime

03 December 2003

The World Rally Championship may have come to an end for another year, but at the opposite end of the sporting spectrum, twenty more rally rookies are preparing to see if they have what it takes to become a professional driver.

The hopefuls, this time selected from the Hertfordshire region, will battle it out in a series of driving, fitness, aptitude and mechanical tests for a seat in a fully prepared MG ZR Rally car in 2004. The MG Rally Scholarship has already selected two potential Rally champions to go forward and compete in eight UK based events next year, and the third of ten assessment days takes place at Silverstone Rally School, on Friday 5th December.

Grilling the candidates during their panel interviews will be Scholarship mentor and former British Rally Champion Gwyndaf Evans. Proving just how competitive the Production Class MG can be, Evans and regular co-driver Claire Mole secured a phenomenal top 30 finish at the 2003 Rally GB, in a Group N MG ZR of similar specification to those on offer to the 10 Scholarship finalists.

Another familiar WRC face will also be sharing the benefits of his experience, this time in the media arena. Channel 4's WRC host Jon Desborough will present to the scholars on just how important the media is to an aspiring sports star:

Jon Desborough explains: "The MG Rally Scholarship is exactly the sort of support rallying needs if we are to find and nurture the next generation of British rally champions. It's great to see a British manufacturer getting behind grass roots rallying, and hopefully helping to secure long term success for British motorsport. In my job hosting Channel 4's WRC coverage, I see all the time how much of an impact the media can have on the careers of drivers at the very top of their game. With the competition for top drives intensifying, it is crucial that the drivers coming through the ranks of national rallying are able to deal with the media in a professional manner and have an appreciation that how they conduct themselves in front of a camera is as important as their performance behind the wheel".

The MG Rally Scholarship also draws on the skills of students from the automotive department of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, providing invaluable hands-on experience for those wishing to pursue a career in motor sport. Reaffirming government support for grass roots sports initiatives, the Scholarship also benefits from the support of two Regional Development Agencies: Advantage West Midlands and the East Midlands Development Agency.

Related Story 07.11.2003 - MG Fly the Flag at Rally GB