MOTOR SPORT: A WISTASTON driver began life as a rally icon at the weekend!
Gaz Carless joined forces with navigator Martin Pettitt, from Winsford, to take part in the North Humberside Forest rally in their Icon-sponsored Peugeot 205 Gti.
They made an immediate impact, finishing third overall.
'This was our second ever finish out of 12 rally starts,' said Carless. 'I think the move from a PA spec 205 to a scholarship standard helped me focus on driving for a finish.'
The event started in Hull before taking in the Olivers Mount race circuit in Scarborough and moving on to the main action in the York-shire forests.
The rally marked the beginning of a new championship campaign for the pair after they decided to enter the 1.9 scholarship, organised by three-times manufacturers champion and former Peugeot works driver Kevin Furber.
The scholarship aims to provide close competition on an equal level as all competitors use the same engine and gearbox, thus placing the emphasis on the driver and navigator skills.
Gaz and Martin decided to join 17 other crews in the scholarship after securing sponsorship.
Selective Spares Motorsport, the competition department of One Stop MOT Centre, prepared the car to the highest standard and Nantwich clothes store Icon came on board.
Owners of the store, which specialises in labels such as Diesel, Earl Jeans, Ecko and Sabotage, hope the partnership will be a big success in the season ahead.
Marketing director Sion Owen said: 'We are aiming to make Gaz the best dressed as well as the fastest driver in the championship.'
Progress of the team can be followed through the Chronicle, the championship website www.205scholarship.com or Icon's site www.Myicon.co.uk
Anyone else interested in supporting Gaz during the season can find out more information by contacting him on 01270 250190.
