Podium finish for Everard on FST UK season opener
Yorkshire lad James Everard opened his assault on the 2008 Fiesta SportingTrophy with a podium finish for the used-garage-equipment.com team, in the first round, the Malcolm Wilson Rally at Cockermouth in Cumbria.
Everard had spent a day testing with the new Pirelli tyres and M-Sport at Greystoke on the Thursday before the opening round at the weekend. After gaining invaluable experience with the new tyres, Everard was then put through his paces at M-Sport on Friday. Following a rigorous physical training session and mental training with Hugh from Edinburgh University, followed by a session with Glenn Patterson from the British Rally Academy. Glen, who trains drivers and navigators on pace notes, provided some invaluable advice for Everard and co-driver Sam Collis.
Saturday brought the start of the Malcolm Wilson Rally, which consisted of seven stages over 45 stage miles.
Everard was off to a good start, reaching first service, four stages into the rally, in third position. With only 20 minutes in service, there was only time to fit new front tyres, add fuel and take some advice from former British Rally champion David Higgins on car set up and tactics. Then back in the car for the two longest stages through the Greystoke forest.
It certainly did not go unnoticed as Everard started to increase the pressure on the front two drivers, taking ten seconds out of the leader’s time. A mile from the end of Stage 6 a puncture unfortunately undid the advantage James had worked hard for and left him in third place, five seconds behind the leading two cars.
In preparing for the final 6.1 mile stage, David Higgins suggested Everard should "remove the spare wheel and jack from the car and drive like you have stolen it!" a statement that underlined how close the finish was going to be. Everard and navigator Sam Collis put in a magnificent effort to win the final stage moving up to second place and finishing just four seconds behind the winner.
Everard collected a £600 cheque courtesy of M-Sport with his best finishing position in the FST and said, "This was exactly the sort of start to the season we were looking for. I would like to thank Sam Collis and all the used-garage-equipment.com team for their effort and support leading up to and during the event. Now we are looking forward to the next rally in the championship and going one step better in my Fiesta that has performed fantastically well running on biofuel for the first time"
The next rally for Everard is to be confirmed.
The next round of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy is on 19th April and is the Carlisle-based Pirelli Rally.