WELCOME TO RHYSYATES.COM

RYR | British Rally Driver Rhys Yates

  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • RHYS
  • MEDIA
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Latest News
  • Perfect drive puts rally star Rhys on top in Cumbria
27th February 2021

Perfect drive puts rally star Rhys on top in Cumbria

Saturday, 22 August 2020 / Published in Latest News

Perfect drive puts rally star Rhys on top in Cumbria

Rhys Yates stepped back aboard a Ford Fiesta R5 for the first time in six months to win his class and finish second overall on the M-Sport Back to Rally Stages on Saturday. 

It was like the last half a year had never happened; like the Chesterfield star had been competing just last week.

The six-stage event run in Greystoke forest marked British rallying’s return to business after six months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown. It also marked one of Rhys’ finest performances. Second after the first stage, he remained in that runners-up spot until the finish.

To offer some context, second place on Saturday was like a win for Rhys and co-driver James Morgan. The only car ahead of them was the Fiesta WRC driven by long-time WRC competitor Matthew Wilson. That Rally1 car is the cutting edge of rally technology, it’s the Formula 1 of the forests. The Rally2 is a step down in terms of power, suspension and transmission.

“I’m well happy with this result,” he said. “Before the start I talked a lot about coming here and having some fun and that was exactly what I was after. But when you come here, to M-Sport’s rally in an M-Sport  car with M-Sport stickers on, there’s definitely some expectation. I know the team wanted a one-two-three and I also knew nobody was realistically going to get close to Matthew [Wilson, in the Rally1].

“The plan for me was to just drive, just relax and drive. I didn’t have to think about the set-up once and the team hasn’t needed to touch the car all day – it’s been sound. 

“On the first couple of stages this morning, I didn’t know where I would be or what I should expect, not having been in the car for six months – so I just gave it a go. I’m not saying I took my brain out and went mad, but I did push quite hard to see what we could do. Second behind Matthew was good and to stay there was even better.

“I’d like to say I controlled things a little bit, but that’s probably stretching it a bit. Adrien [Fourmaux, M-Sport team-mate] is quick – he doesn’t hang about. But I was bang on. We made the time in the first couple and then I managed it, I didn’t take quite as much risk when everything was a bit more marginal in the really tricky bits.

“One of the aspects of going to a World Rally Championship round is that I do find myself thinking quite deeply about the set-up, how’s the car working and how I’m driving and that kind of thing. Here I put that out of my mind and just cracked on with it. It was really refreshing, kind of liberating a little bit to be honest. 

“But the best thing is that I really showed the speed today.”

And M-Sport Ford World Rally Team managing director Malcolm Wilson agreed.

Wilson, the man who has masterminded all of M-Sport’s world championship triumphs, said: “Rhys has done a really good rally. His pace has been good all day. What we’ve seen today is a very strong performance from Rhys and now we need to try to get him back out on some WRC events.”

Rhys’ programme for the remainder of the season has yet to be finalised, but today’s result provided a strong reminder of both the pace and the potential of Chesterfield’s finest.

  • Tweet
Tagged under: Greystoke forest, M-Sport Back to Rally Stages, Malcolm Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Rhys Yates, RYR

What you can read next

Rally star Rhys goes around in circles… and loves it
Yates endures “difficult” Rally di Roma
Yates proves pace with first BRC podium

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Rally star Rhys maintains his 100% winning record

    Real world or virtual reality, Rhys Yates can’t...
  • Rhys ready to entertain the streaming masses at Goodwood

    Rhys ready to entertain the streaming masses at...
  • Rhys gets real to help bring rallying back to life

    During the coronavirus lockdown, Chesterfield r...
  • Rhys wins Portugal to remain on top of the world

    Chesterfield driver Rhys Yates is getting used ...
  • Rhys on top of the world after beating the best in the world

    RYR driver Rhys Yates has beaten drivers from a...

Archives

  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017

Categories

  • Latest News
  • Uncategorised

Featured Posts

  • Rally star Rhys maintains his 100% winning record

    0 comments
  • Rhys ready to entertain the streaming masses at Goodwood

    0 comments
  • Rhys gets real to help bring rallying back to life

    0 comments
  • Rhys wins Portugal to remain on top of the world

    0 comments
  • Rhys on top of the world after beating the best in the world

    0 comments
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2020 All rights reserved - Team RYR

TOP