Skoda Rally Blog

On previous years, we’ve driven to Cardiff to get the passes and stickers before getting setup, but this year we thought we’d see if we could get set up without making the 2 hour round trip. And amazingly we did – we managed to get everything in, unloaded and set up, and it saved a load of time and effort. The service area is much the same as last year, but this year we’re in a better place for two reasons. Firstly there’s actual Tarmac where we are, not just broken up gravel, which will be a huge improvement. Secondly, someone’s put a wall of rocks between where we are and the sea, so the wind should be a little less of a problem – it’s far less exposed.

Getting everything set up wasn’t entirely straightfoward, mostly because the service area wasn’t fully manned and someone had gone home with the keys for one area, apparently, so there was a fair wait while that was sorted, and Paul went off to get a lock for the trailer and the camera as Chris Adamson from the Echo spoke to us and wanted a picture of the car. By the time Paul got back (due to traffic), it was getting a bit dark, but the pictures look OK (we’ll see if they’re good enough for print though), and it gave me time to sort out a few little things, including re-doing the toolkit for the car, fitting the last few stickers and adding a SECOND belt cutter – why on earth we need TWO, I don’t know, but it’s there and done.

As I was just finishing off, Jamie Smith turned up with his Impreza and with Simon, so hopefully they’ll get further than Stage 5 last year – his words, not mine! They’re servicing just behind us, and are in the same boat as us in terms of crew and equipment, so hopefully both of us will make it to the end this year!

So, here’s a picture of us with the car…

And here’s a rubbish video of the service area. Better will follow, I promise.