SPONSOR GETS CLOSE TO THE ACTION WITH RALLY ACE TOM CAVE

The managing director of Morris Lubricants got a close up view of what it’s like to co-drive for young Welsh rally ace Tom Cave as he hurtled around Clocaenog Forest in North Wales in preparation for Thursday’s start of the Wales Rally GB.

Andrew Goddard, who heads the Shrewsbury-based company, which is the main sponsor of Tom’s Ford Fiesta R5, replaced co-driver Ieuan Thomas for one of Tom’s 10 practice runs around the forest stages on Monday. It’s an experience he will not forget in a hurry.

“The performance of the car and Tom’s driving skills are awesome and it looks amazing with the Morris Lubricants’ branding and the Union Jack,” said Andrew. “I don’t think the laws of physics and that car go together, as I have no idea how Tom managed to stay on the track at the speed we were travelling.

“If my trip around Clocaenog Forest is anything to go by, then I think Tom has a tremendous chance of finishing the rally as the number one British driver. I shall be watching the event with interest and grateful that it will be Ieuan in the car with Tom and not me!”

The test runs, including some in darkness to prepare for the night time start of the rally, went very well, with only minor set-up changes to the car.

Aberdyfi-based Tom, 21, is relishing the prospect of competing against fellow Mid Wales drivers Elfyn Evans from Dolgellau and former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins from Carno in the finale of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship.

He has secured an MSL Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 for the event thanks to support from Morris Lubricants, the Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdyfi and Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool.

"It's going to be a tough event - new car, new stages, three in darkness and Saturday with no service at all during the day - but Ieuan and I are up for it,” said Tom.

“I'm really looking forward to seeing how our pace compares with Elfyn, who has more experience of the car and Mark, who's experience is huge. I think three Welshmen battling it out on some of the best stages in the world in the same car on Wales Rally GB is going to be very exciting."

The event begins with the ceremonial start in Llandudno on Thursday night, followed by three stages in darkness, before the crews head back to service in Deeside. Friday sees six classic Wales Rally GB stages run in two loops of three in Mid Wales, with a remote service halt in Newtown.

Saturday comprises six new stages, including two runs around the Chirk Castle spectator stage but with no service available during the day, meaning the crews will have to be completely self-reliant.

Sunday sees six final stages, culminating with the Great Orme Road running along the Orme Peninsula before the podium celebrations, again in Llandudno.

“Sponsoring Tom to compete in one of the world’s most famous rallies gives us the opportunity to increase exposure of the Morris Lubricants brand while at the same time supporting a talented young driver,” said Andrew. “Morris Lubricants will be competing at the highest level and showing the performance of our lubricants in the toughest of challenges.”

The company also sponsors Hereford-based Lea Wood, who was recently crowned the first winner of the Jack Sears Trophy in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and plans to step up to the production car class next year.

“Potentially, we have two young British champions of the future on our team,” added Andrew.