Dream Debut for Robbie Dale in BRC Formula2000

26 April 2005

"This has been a dream come true, considering the deal for this drive and the Kwik-Fit British Rally Championship was only pulled together last week, I can't thank the guys at The Inside Line Ltd and Autosport Technology enough for this opportunity."

Those were the words uttered by a breathless Robbie Dale at the end of last weekend's International Rally of Wales. He had just contested his first full length international rally and finished 20th overall and 1st in class - driving a car he hadn't sat in before the rally!

In fact the Formula 2000 Renault Clio had only arrived in the UK on the Monday night before the rally, giving the team at Autosport Technology only three days to check the car and prepare it for Wales, so it really was a baptism of fire for the 21 year old from North Berwick.

As a 19 year old in his first year of rallying, Dale won the Ecosse 205 Challenge (for drivers in 1.6 litre Peugeot 205s) two years ago running his car on an event to event basis with the constant worry of where the money for the next Entry Fee or set of tyres was coming from. Last year he was only able to contest a limited number of events, but his talent had been spotted by Willie Paterson and Gavin Miller of The Inside Line Ltd who spotted his talent and were the prime motivators behind this new deal with a Renault Clio and Kent based Autosport Technology.

After driving a rather elderly self-built Peugeot 205, the professionally prepared Clio was a revelation to Dale: "All credit must go to Richard Asquith for building such a brilliant car. It's very rewarding to drive." And when asked by journalsist about his success on the car's debut, Dale replied modestly: "I took it easy on my first run out in the car but it's a great car to drive - it only does what you tell it to do with the pedals!"

Alongside Dale on the rally was the hugely experienced, semi-professional Irish co-driver, Glenn Patterson: "This has been an excellent rally for us," said Patterson, "for such a young driver, Robbie listens very well - and learns!"

"We can't wait until the next round to get to do this again," said Patterson, which will be on the Carlisle based Pirelli Rally, second round of the British series, over the weekend of  20/21/22 May

See 2005 series calendar for British Rally Championship

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