Racing through winter with a hair-raising rally to end the year

PortimÃo, December (pre-Christmas)

A week before Christmas, I spent two days coaching John Emberson – owner of the ‘Chocolate Drop’ Chevron [see Golden brown, November 2024] – in Portimão, in a Radical SR3. I encouraged him to buy the car for this purpose because it’s significantly cheaper to run than a historic Chevron, and it also enables me to sit with him in the car.

Rally class December (pre-Christmas)

Straight after that, I was coaching a client in a Ford Escort Mk2 on gravel. Everyone I race with, I try and take them off-road (deliberately!). It’s important to build a broad skill set and people have a lot more car control than they realise, but on track you don’t always get the opportunity of sliding cars around and developing the confidence to do it. It makes them better drivers when it comes to racing.

Rixy Stages, December (post Christmas)

I love this rally. I was in one of our Toyota GT86 rally cars. We finished sixth in class and 12th overall. We run a standard engine in the GT86, only 200bhp with 1150kg, and we’re up against 850kg Escort Mk2s with 270bhp. It was great, the stages are really fast. At times we’re doing 120mph between the trees on slippery single-track roads. It makes you concentrate, that’s for sure. My co-driver was Graham Wild, a friend who has vast experience.

By the time you read this, I’ll have raced at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina for the first time, in a Radical SR3 with American Ben Curry, in a great team called Dream Racing. For me, it’s always a treat to try a new circuit. Straight after that, there’s a day at Donington Park in a Lotus Elan, then another in a Tiga Sports 2000.

Your top events this month

Knockhill Rally Stages

Knockhill, Fife, February 16
For Valentine’s weekend, what better way to show your undying love for your other half than a pair of tickets to a rally day. Cars from a plethora of romantic periods will be present: Escorts, 205s, Imprezas, etc. And the paddock is open to spectators. First race is 8.30am; £16 adults.

ECO Rally Cup – Valencia

Plaza de España, Castellón, Spain, February 16-18
An FIA event with a difference. Competing cars are normal production model EVs and the ‘track’ is regular roads. That’s right, daily runners with no modifications. The drivers have to manage speed with eco efficiency. And it’ll be warmer than Knockhill.

The Ice St Moritz

Lake St Moritz, Switzerland, February 21-22
Referring to itself as “the world’s coolest concours”, the International Concours of Elegance St Moritz is a car extravaganza on ice. Last year’s Best in Show was a Delage D8-120 S, which looked even more glorious amid an alpine backdrop. Tickets from £75.

Race Retro – Stoneleigh Park

Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, February 21-23
Bigger and better than last year, so the organisers claim, with more halls, more cars, more motor sport legends and around 120 rally cars on the track. A live rally stage includes Group B power so older people can say to nearby youngsters, “It were better in my day.” Tickets from £29.50.

WEC – Qatar 1812kms

Losail, Qatar, February 28
WEC’s 2025 season gets underway with Toyota looking to defend its Hypercar manufacturers’ crown. But have you ever wondered why it’s called the 1812Kms? Well, Qatar’s National Day is December 18, ergo the race is run to 1812km, or 1126 miles.

More Events

Feb 14-15 Formula E – Jeddah ePrix
Feb 16 GT Winter Series – Valencia
Mar 8-9 CSCC – Silverstone