SJR Hankook Backs Wales Rally GB Launch

Welsh rally legend Gwyndaf Evans was on hand to help organisers launch the 2006 Wales Rally GB in style at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this week. The Hankook-backed driver is playing a starring role in the British Rally Championship this year and is eagerly looking forward to Wales Rally GB – which is this year the finale for the British Rally Championship.

“I have always enjoyed tremendous home support and hopefully this year there will be an added reason as I battle for the British Rally Championship title,’’ said Evans who is part of the Welsh rally team contesting the BRC. “Wales has some of the best rallying stages in the world and this year looks like being a cracking event as part of the World Rally Championship and the British Rally Championship.’’

The SJR Hankook team has a strong Welsh presence this year with both Gwyndaf Evans and team mate Stuart Jones flying the Welsh Dragon for Wales and driving for Wales in the BRC. The team’s Mitsubishi Evo 9s are also prepared in Wales, Gwyndaf’s co-driver Huw Lewis is from Machynlleth and Stuart’s co-driver Craig Parry is just over the border in Oswestry.

They are enjoying a terrific start to the season with success on the first round in Kielder where Gwyndaf finished an impressive third overall and a successful asphalt test ahead of the second round of the BRC in Duns next month.

Last month the drivers helped launch the Wales Motor Show in Chepstow and Stuart has been in Greece where he is studying the Acropolis Rally in preparation for a move up to the World Rally Championship next year, in the Production category.

Also on hand to launch Wales Rally GB in Cardiff was Nigel Griffiths in the Tesco 99 Octane/Hankook Subaru. Currently contesting the Rally Masters Series which follows the BRC, Nigel is already planning his return to Wales Rally GB after a crash thwarted his attempt last year.

“The season has suddenly become extremely busy and we are delighted to be involved in the launch of Wales Rally GB,” said Hankook Motorports manager Mike Patterson. “We supported two cars in the rally last year and this year are delighted to have such a strong Welsh team to contest Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship.”