John Easson Award Winner
IT has been almost 12 months since Ewan Tindall drove a rally car in anger.
So it’s understandable that the reigning 2300 Club John Easson Award winner is raring to go on this weekend’s Argyll Rally.
“Looking forward to being back out is an understatement, our last event was the M-Sport Stages in Greystoke last year, so it’s been a while for all of us,” said Ewan.
And he’s got a new car to get acclimatised to, after swapping his Fiesta R2 for a newer, more powerful Fiesta R2T.
The 20-year-old from Newcastle-upon-Tyne unveiled the new car – and new livery – this week, together with the announcement of a new sponsor, Team Valley Service & MOT Centre.
“I haven’t actually driven the R2T in anger yet, the only experience I’ve got with it was taking it down to the local garage to get some stickers put on!” he explained.
“It will be a big step into the unknown, but I’m confident I will adapt and pick it up pretty quickly.
“My co-driver Andrew Roughead and I went up to Argyll last weekend to do a few passes over the stages. They are quite technical in places but also quite fast with a few bumps.
“It will be a case of learning the car on Friday night then seeing if we can pick up the pace on the Saturday as confidence builds. It is my first closed road rally, so that will be an experience in itself.”
In a dramatic shift in format, the previously all-gravel Argyll Rally has switched to a closed-road sealed surface event for the first time, and despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, has been given the go-ahead by the authorities.
Promoted and organised by Mull Car Club, the driving force behind the iconic Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally, the event will be held across closed public roads in the Argyll and Bute peninsula.
“We are looking to follow the full Scottish Rally Championship calendar this season and mix it up with a few tarmac events as and when we can, “ added Ewan.
