RallyBuzz talks to Steve Perez

Photo: Malcolm Greig (www.rally-pics.com)

THE STEVE PEREZ INTERVIEW

RallyBuzz took a few minutes out to chat with drinks entrepreneur Steve Perez and asked him how his rallying season was progressing, we also found out some interesting facts about his collection of rally cars.

Steven J Garcia Perez was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire in 1957 where his Spanish father ran a pub and restaurant. Having left school with few qualifications, Steve worked as a trainee chef in his father’s restaurant. When his father died the business was sold and Steve went to work for Allied Breweries as a Technical manager. Disliking the politics that came with the job, Steve left the company in 1985.

In 1997, his company GBL International was formed and created VK Vodka Kick which proved to be a great success and the business grew rapidly, in 2005, the renamed "Global Brands" turned over £72m. The company received many accolades Including being named as one of The Bank of Scotland’s fastest growing company’s. Steve was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the CBI Growing Business Awards, as well as winning the Northern Entrepreneur of the year.

Out of the office, Steve managed to find time to indulge in his many passions. He has become a helicopter pilot and has indulged his lifelong passion for cars and rallying. Steve successfully competes as a professional rally driver with the VK Rally Team in his many cars including a WRC Ford Focus, Lancia Stratos and various historic Porches. The VK Rally Team won the Historic Championship in 2004, the National Championship in 2005 and Steve was crowned the 2004 ANCRO British National Rally Champion.

perez Dukeries Rally 2009 Dukeries Rally 2009 Video Clips

Photo: Ian Hardy

RallyBuzz: After your finish in first place finish at the Dukeries Rally what other events are you planning to do in 2009 and will you be taking part in the Wales Rally GB?

Steve Perez:

Following the Dukeries Rally I am looking forward to the Swansea Bay Rally. There may still be an outside chance of winning the championship if Marcus Dodd has several retirements. I will definitely be going flat out for the rest of the year. It is a fairly quiet part of the year for me now but I intend to compete on the rest of the ANCRO rounds and towards the end of the year things are hotting up as I will be competing on Rally GB once again. I have a couple of weeks off before going out again on the Roger Albert Clark Rally which finishes on the 16th November, then me and the team fly out to Africa on the 19th for the Safari Rally so its all go!

RB: Going in to the 9th Round of the World Rally Championship the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team are 3rd in the Manufacturers' standings, can you see the team continue to beat the Citroen Junior Rally Team.

SP:

I am very pleased with the performance of this years Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team. I never expected them to beat the might of the main Ford & Citroen teams. And this year Matthew has shown reliability and consistency compared to some young guns at the Citroen Junior Team. Long may this continue!

perez385 450977a RallyBuzz talks to Steve Perez

RB: How did you get into Rallying and who are your rallying heroes?

SP:

I started off as a co-driver on Road Rallies co driving for people such as Alistair Sutherland. I stopped rallying for a number of years until I decided to have a go in the driving seat where I surprised myself by winning the 2003 British Historic Championship and the following year I won the 2004 British National Rally Championship. I was a great fan of Björn Waldegård and I must say what a pleasure it was to see him drive my Lancia Stratos. He is a master at setting the car up and he will be doing some work for my team prior to the Safari Rally. I am also a fan of Hannu Mikkola who I was honored to sit with last year in my Audi Quattro in which he won the Welsh and Mintex Rally.

RB: Kick Energy has become the main sponsor of the UK Fiesta SportTrophy giving new drivers the chance to get into rallying. Do you think more should be done to encourage young people to take up the sport?

SP:

Kick Energy have been very pleased with the sponsorship of the Fiesta Sport Trophy. We are also the sponsor of the Junior Rally Championship for the 14-17 year olds. It is a great opportunity for them to get behind the wheel and gain real rally experience. I think it is a great incentive and should be encouraged further to get more people interested in the sport.

RB: We have seen you in a variety of rally cars at rally events, how many cars do you own and which car do you enjoying driving the most?

SP:

My list of rally cars include:

1967 Porsche 911s (2003 Rally Championship Winner)
1974 Lancia Stratos
1975 Porsche SCRS
1975 Datsun 240Z (Safari Rally Car)
1984 Audi Quattro
2005 Ford Focus WRC (Ex Markko Martin)
2007 Ford Focus WRC (Ex Marcus Gronholm)
2007 Mitsubishi Evo 9 (Peru Rally)

I love my Lancia Stratos for the noise it produces and it is very popular with spectators and marshals, I just wish the noise levels were not so restricted in the UK. For the pure technological brilliance it is the Ford Focus WRC, the technical detail, speed and handling are mind blowing and it is always a real buzz to drive.

Steve Perez Sol Rally Barbados 2009 YouTube videos