Colin Smith (left) and Craig Chapman (right). Photo courtesy of David Barlow
Oldmeldrum rally driver Colin Smith is set to take on the biggest event of his fledgling career when he tackles the Rally of Scotland later this month. Smith and Westhill co-driver Craig Chapman have confirmed they will be contesting the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which will take place in central Scotland from the 19th-21st November 2009.
Up until now, the junior pairing have been competing in national-level rallies around Scotland in an eighteen year-old Peugeot 205 GTi. On the Rally of Scotland, however, they will find themselves on the same entry list as recently crowned IRC champion Kris Meeke and double British Rally Champion Guy Wilks, and are likely to be one of only a handful of privately-entered crews taking on the international rally.
Colin and Craig’s usual Peugeot is too old to contest international-level rallies, so the Grampian hotshots are stepping up to a Honda Civic Type-R for the rally. Getting used to the new car will be the least of the duo’s worries, though – the Perth-based Rally of Scotland covers a staggering two hundred miles over three days, in comparison to the forty-five mile, single day events Smith and Chapman have done up until now.
The juniors will also have to write their own pace notes for the entire route, driving the Perthshire and Trossachs stages at slow speed in the days leading up to the rally and noting the bends and hazards themselves. On regular Scottish rounds, by contrast, standardized notes are provided for the competitors.
Colin Smith and Craig Chapman in action. Photo courtesy of rally-photo.com
The team’s service crew will have to keep the car fuelled, oiled and running on fresh tyres for all three days. Rally preparation experts Andrew Wood Motorsport have been drafted in to help Smith and Chapman keep their car in full fettle from start to finish. Taking on such a big event doesn’t come without its costs, though, and Colin and Craig are still on the lookout for supporters to help them in their venture.
The Rally of Scotland will be the toughest rally the country has seen for many years, but project engineer Colin is relishing the challenge. “Having a full-blown international championship rally on our doorstep is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss,” the 22 year-old declares. “Our season has gone well so far, so we’d like to finish on a high. Our aim is obviously first and foremost to get to the end, but I’d like to finish quite high up and hopefully show up a few folk along the way!”
“We’re convinced the Honda Civic is the right tool for the job,” he continues. “We knew we’d have to hire a car because my own car is too old for international-level rallies, and having seen the results other people have scored in Hondas it seemed like the best option.”
“There’s so much to learn, what with the new car, having to make our own notes and rallying for three days straight,” adds company director Chapman (25). “But it is a fantastic opportunity for us to learn and will give our rally career a massive boost.”
Keep up to date with Colin and Craig’s progress by following their blog at www.flat-oot-like-a-dukes-fit.co.uk or www.ecossechallenge.co.uk!
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Tags: aberdeen, british, clubman, colin smith, craig chapman, entrant, IRC, privateer, racmsa, rally scotland 2009, scottish
