by Rob Wilkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH BARRY CLARK: CLICK HERE
Barry Clark won the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International series in 2007 and this year will get to take in three rounds in the WRC in a latest spec Ford Focus RS WRC car.
Crash.net Radio caught up with the Scot recently to find out how much he is looking forward to that challenge...
Crash.net:
Barry, how exciting is this chance for you with the Focus and just how important is it for you to make the most of it?
Barry Clark:
I am over the moon. It is an absolutely fantastic opportunity for me to get into a World Rally Car and be up against the main guys in the world championship. It is a massive step for us from the little Group N Fiesta. But it is one that I am ready to make and I am delighted to have gotten the opportunity. [Ford boss] Malcolm Wilson has been fantastic and we have been able to come up with this deal to do three rallies. I have never done Turkey before, but I have done Corsica and GB. It is a challenge I am thoroughly looking forward to.
Crash.net:
One event has come about as a prize for winning the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International championship last year, while the other two outings are something you have worked to secure. Give us the details…
BC:
We had a fantastic time last year in the Fiestas and we dominated the championship. Last year they awarded Alessandro Bettega a run in Corsica in the Focus [after he won the FSTi series in ‘06] and so they have done the same again for me this year. But we have managed to secure some extra funding and the opportunity was there to use the car for a couple of other events and we have managed to do that and get the deal for three rallies. It will give me a bit more of a chance and a bit more time in the car and a chance to prove myself on different surfaces.
Crash.net:
How difficult has it been to raise the money to do those extra two events?
BC:
It is an awful lot of money and raising money for anything is mighty tough. We are still working on trying to raise as much money as we can and getting as much sponsorship in as we can, but we have committed to it this year. We will get there and we will see from there.
Crash.net:
Driving the Fiesta ST to switching to driving the Focus is going to be very different isn't it?
BC:
They are totally different cars. The Fiesta ST is a road car with a few competition bits on it, whereas the Focus is an out and out rally car. Obviously it is four-wheel drive as well and there is much more power with the turbo. There is an awful lot to get use to. But hopefully I will be able to get out in the car a few times before the Rally of Turkey in June and get some miles under my belt. We are also building an Evo 9 that I am going to use in some British championship events. I just want to build on the four-wheel drive experience and that should help with it.
