Keith Parry going for WRGB glory

NWCC member Keith Parry aims to round off one of the finest years of his motorsport career with a big performance in the largest and most high-profile rally in the UK.

Next weekend will see Parry and co-driver Eryl Evans tackle the world-famous Wales Rally GB.

Llangefni’s Parry and Evans, from Ceredigion, will launch their Subaru Impreza into the two-day section of the national rally, which begins and ends in Llandudno. The pair have a huge amount of experience, having entered more than 50 rallies between them.

They have done the Wales Rally GB together once, in 2011 where they finished 11th overall in the national event for British-based amateur drivers which runs alongside the actual World Rally Championship round.

After a strong showing in this year’s Welsh and BTRDA championships, Parry and Evans want to put icing on the cake with a top 10 finish in next week’s premier showpiece. The duo have had a very successful year, winning the B13 class in both the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship and BTRDA championship.

They had a great run on their last event of the championship, October’s Cambrian Rally, where they finished fifth overall, first in class and fastest around the Great Orme. “It was great to finish fifth overall in the Cambrian, but to set the fastest time on the Great Orme was a real achievement in itself,” said Parry.

The cost of entering the Wales Rally GB does not come cheap and Parry and Evans are hugely grateful to main sponsors Padarn Bus of Llanberis. “It costs a lot of money to be put forward and sponsorship deals are hard to come by, so we cannot thank Padarn enough,” Parry added. “As well as them being our main sponsors, we have a number of others supporting us financially who were are very grateful to. “We’re also indebted to Dave Thomas of the North Wales Car Club.”

Parry and Evans will drive car No2 in the two-day event at Wales Rally GB, which takes place between November 14-17.

The national treasure is the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship and attracts the world’s best.

“It has been one of my best years in rallying and to have an entry in the Wales Rally GB is the icing on the cake,” added Parry.

“To have this rally in North Wales is something to be really proud of. It used to be held in Cardiff, but now having it in the north is great for the sport. “Formula One gets all the media attention, but I think rallying is more exciting and I know people who when they’ve come along to watch a rally once, got hooked.”

Parry, who began competing 17 years ago in JJ Brown Road Rally events before progressing to forestry stages, also finished fourth in this year’s Welsh Championship.

Article and image from Daily Post Wales