Britain's Barry Clark will head to Spain next week for a pressure-free Rally RACC Catalunya Costa Daurada having already secured the 2007 Fiesta SportingTrophy International series title.
Clark has been unstoppable this season in the FSTi championship and to date has won every single event - and now he and co-driver, Scott Martin will be keen to stretch that run to six wins from six.
“I'm really looking forward to Spain. Any pressure to win the championship has now gone and we can just have fun,” he confirmed. “Vytauatas [Baranauskas] has stepped up his game as the season has progressed; neither of us have anything to lose, so I'm anticipating a full-on battle for the win!”
Clark is more than aware though what happened last year in Spain, when he crashed out early on. As such he definitely wants to make it to the finish: “It will be good experience for us to come to this event and get to the end. Last year we had a big accident on the second stage and had to retire from the rally so it will be good to get the rally mileage this time round,” he continued.
“Knowing that we have the championship wrapped up already is still not going to stop me from challenging for the win though. We have shown pace on all surfaces this year and I hope to continue that on the fast Spanish roads.”
This weekend meanwhile Clark will warm up for the asphalt event in Spain by attending the Chatsworth Rally Show in the UK, where he will get his first proper drive in a World Rally Car.
Clark has been entrusting with driving a 2006 spec
BP Ford Focus RS WRC car at the event and is relishing the chance to hop behind the wheel.
“I'm really proud to have been asked by M-Sport to step in and drive the Ford Focus at Chatsworth, and I think the fact that I have dominated and won FSTi has proved that I'm capable of doing a sensible job for the team.
“It will be a great experience for me. I have never driven a world car and to be handed the keys to last year's manufacturers' winning car is a dream come true,” concluded the 25-year-old.
