Jardine, McKenzie and Reid in Wales Rally GB bid.

MG XPower regular rally pilot Tony Jardine has paired up with someone far better looking than his usual motley crew of co-drivers as he prepares to compete in the UK's biggest rallying event, and WRC round, Wales Rally GB.

This year Jardine will be co-driven by British television Speed Sunday presenter Lee McKenzie. The interesting part is that Lee has never co-driven before...

For the previous two Wales Rally GB events Tony was partnered by the tight overall favouring Kevin Eason of The Times and the bearded Maurice Hamilton of The Observer.

Whilst both previous Wales Rally GB co-drivers were certainly of Tony's generation, McKenzie is a mere 26 years old. In order to get her into co-driving shape for what is Britain's round of the World Championship, the help of World Champion co-driver Robert Reid has been enlisted.

The road to the top will be far from easy for the pair, as Ayrshire rookie McKenzie first has to pass a series of gruelling tests to qualify for her international rally licence - compulsory if they are to be eligible for a world championship event.

Not wanting to take any chances with their preparations, the MG powered pair have enlisted the support of Reid, who secured the world title alongside Richard Burns in 2001. The Perth based co-driver will mentor the 26 year old Speed Sunday presenter as she progresses through rally school tuition and a series of tough national events throughout the summer.

Jardine, as comfortable behind the wheel of the Sportinglife.com MG ZR as in the ITV world of F1, is something of a rallying veteran - a complete contrast to Scot McKenzie, who has yet to turn a rallying wheel.

"Having covered all aspects of motor sport from a TV perspective, it is fantastic to have a go myself, pull on a race suit and take the challenge of mixing it with the best - although it is extremely nerve wracking at the same time" said McKenzie. "I am lucky to be alongside Tony who has tackled Rally GB for the last 11 years, but to have Robert as a mentor is a massive bonus. I just hope they are both patient men!"

The rally 'experiment' will feature as a video diary for Speed Sunday with the viewers able to follow Lee's progress from the initial rally school assessment, all the way through to Rally GB in September - assuming of course that McKenzie clears all the hurdles.

Her first taste of navigational duties will come this weekend at the Mutiny Rally in Wales (5th June). McKenzie commented: "While I'm competing in my first ever rally, my programme from the Monaco GP will be on Speed Sunday this weekend. I'm not saying where I'd rather be but I can guarantee that I'm really looking forward to the first event."

Ascot based Jardine has been ITV's F1 analyst for several years but also competes regularly for the MG X-Power team, a relationship currently in its third year.

"The role of the co-driver is paramount," explains Tony. "The job is a mixture of manager, navigator and co-driver. They have to be confident that the pace notes they are calling are 100% accurate across hundreds of competitive miles of some of rallying's toughest terrain, whilst at the same time coordinating the team, managing the schedule and of course, keeping an eye on the stopwatch."

So what are the expectations from Jardine of his new partner in crime, and probably given the welsh forests, grime. "It will be tough - Lee is going to have to take the rough with the smooth and absorb a lot of information, but we are lucky to have the guidance of a real star in Robert Reid," says Jardine.

Jardine recently sampled the track MG ZR to good effect at the Welsh circuit of Pembrey, but it's the rally version with which he's very familiar. "The MG continues to go from strength to strength, bolstered by the continued support of Michelin," explains Tony, "so it's just up to Lee and I to bring it home safely at the end of the day. With Lee needing to get vital rally finishes under her belt to qualify for Rally GB, that's the most important thing."