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Tuesday, 4th December 2007

Leaving JRC rejuvenated me, says Guy Wilks.

Britain's Guy Wilks believes that he is in a better position now than he was twelve months ago as he continues to chase his dream of competing at the pinnacle of the sport in a works World Rally Car.

Wilks opted for a dual campaign this season and as well as competing in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship with the 'works' Mitsubishi UK team, he also did six events in the WRC, using a privately Ford Focus RS WRC05 in Norway, Portugal, Greece, Finland and Germany, before switching to a Subaru Impreza WRC for Ireland.

Speaking following his success on the Wales Rally GB, where he secured the BRC title, as well as taking the win in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship category, the Englishman reiterated again that he wants to battle at the very top.

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"Never-say-never, but the PWRC is not my ultimate goal," he replied, when asked if he might do the Production Car WRC in 2008.

"I want to be in a World Rally Car next season," he continued. "It is hard running as a privateer [as I did this year in the WRC] and having to pay to run in a WRC car that isn't as up-to-date as the top cars.

"In that situation you can't afford to go flat-out as you pay for the damage. As for next year, I am in a better position now than I was this time last year as we are talking to teams, but nothing is settled."

As for his season as a whole, Wilks has been happy with his achievements and in addition to his success in Wales this weekend, he also scored his first-ever 'senior' WRC points on the previous event in Ireland, when he finished sixth overall after an impressive drive on the Sligo-based round.

"It's been a generally good season for Phil [Pugh – my co-driver] and myself," added the former Suzuki Junior Rally Championship-man. "We've had four top ten finishes in the WRC, including sixth overall in Ireland. To win the British Championship with five maximum scores and to have led the other two events I didn't finish is great too.

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