Being offered a ride in a Rally1 car is like being handed a winning lottery ticket. It’s an experience money simply can’t buy. Standing in the changing room, I was suited, booted and helmeted. Ready to go. While the heavy rain got heavier. And heavier. The stage was stopped. Then cancelled.
Twelve months ago, a storm ripped through Goodwood and stopped the show on Saturday. I missed my ride. I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance, but thanks to the Toyota team and specifically to their communications guru Hans De Bauw and drivers Elfyn Evans and Jari-Matti Latvala, I did.
First up, I can’t thank those guys enough. I’m so grateful for the opportunity they gave me and it was very, very definitely worth waiting a year for – not least because I got twice the experience! Not only did Elfyn take me through the Forest Rally Stage in the GR Yaris Rally1, but I got to experience the GR Yaris Rally2 alongside Jari-Matti as well.
What was it like? Out of this world.
I’m fortunate enough to own some really special rally cars and I’ve ridden alongside the McRae family and with stars like Mark Higgins in some of those amazing cars. I thought I’d seen it all and experienced everything this sport had to offer. But the reality is that I knew I hadn’t. To sit in a car which has won – and is winning – rounds of the World Rally Championship on a regular basis, both in the main field and in WRC2, is the absolute pinnacle.
The cars were awesome, and the drivers right up there. Elfyn is the guy closing on the championship lead right now, he’s finished second in the championship three times – he is, quite simply, one of the very best in the world right now. And so is Jari-Matti. We saw how he’s still got it when he finished fifth in Finland last year.
Sleep did not come easily on Friday night.
The Rally2 with Jari-Matti was just awesome. I’ve been around the stage at Goodwood a few times, so I have an idea of what’s coming and where – and I thought I had an idea of the sort of speed we’d be doing. Not a bit! He was the very definition of a flying Finn. It was a wonderful demonstration of controlled, but very, very fast driving in a very, very capable car.
But then came the main event: the Rally1 car.
Before getting in, I read the instructions for the ride. Hands, I was told, were to be sat on or crossed between my legs. This was no time to start talking with them! Actually climbing aboard – this doesn’t really feel like a car you get in – wasn’t the easiest of operations, but once in there I was surprised how comfortable it was.
Having seen the onboards of these things off the line, the launch was something I was especially looking forward to. It didn’t disappoint. It was insane. Honestly, I think my vision was blurred as soon as Elfyn saw the green light. Once the eyeballs returned to their normal position – ie not somewhere in the back of my head – it was just astonishing to watch and to experience life alongside him in this car.
Would I do it again? In an absolute heartbeat. It was an absolute privilege to ride with them.
And, once again, an absolute privilege to be at Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s an event which my year turns around, an unmissable moment to meet with old friends and, of course, to bring out some of the cars.
It was lovely to have James, my son, with me – and quite emotional to see him wearing his Martini overalls and driving the Lancia Delta S4 up the hill. Sadly, my daughter Josie couldn’t make it this year, but I’m sure wild horses won’t keep her – or any of us – away next time.
The GR Yaris Rally1 did everything so well, so capably. There was incredible raw power there, but also so much grip. Like I said, I’ve been fortunate to ride – and drive – some amazing cars, but the Rally1 car is the one that left me genuinely shaking. The adrenalin rush was something else.
I would like to thank Ian Gwynne and all of his team at BGMsport for running the cars, the Fiat 131 Abarth, the Ford Focus WRC and the Subaru Legacy RS.
It was great to see Max McRae in the car his uncle Colin used to finish second in Sweden in 1992 – even better that Max and the Legacy won the Hannu Mikkola Award for the best driver and car combination on the Forest Rally Stage. That was the icing on the cake.
Ian, everybody, Goodwood wouldn’t be the same without you all.
I started this column thanking Toyota for all they did and I will end if the same way. I couldn’t have asked for more than you all gave me. Thank you.
