Motorsport Champions train at Curborough

A group of motorsport world champions have spent the last two days making sure someone from the UK will follow in their footsteps.

Marcus Grönholm, Phil Mills and Robert Reid took part in a two-day training session involving the best race and rally prospects Britain has to offer at Curborough Sprint Course, near Lichfield.
The aspiring young aces receiving guidance from the established legends were all members of the Elite development schemes backed by the governing body of motorsport, the Motor Sports Association. Among their number were competitors from a wide range of motorsport disciplines, such as rallying, historics, Formula 3 and Touring Cars – including Lichfield’s own Andy Jordan.
 
All are rated as being potential champions of the future and selected to receive the best possible support on developing the skills needed to make the difference between being good – and being great. With previous training sessions in 2007 having concentrated on subjects such as sports nutrition and sports psychology, the event at Curborough was focused on in-car skills and sponsorship development.
 
Monday (September 15) saw the young stars embark on a Sponsor Drive Day where they had the opportunity to treat around 40 potential sponsors to receive passenger rides around the Curborough track in a range of super-fast machinery including a Subaru Impreza, Escort Mk II, Ford Fiesta and Citroen C2R2.  There was also a presentation from the organisers on the benefits of sponsorship within motorsport and an opportunity for networking with business guests.
 
Yesterday (Tuesday September 16) the youngsters had the opportunity to learn from the very best as they received instruction from double World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm. The former WRC star, who helped Ford clinch its double Manufacturer Championship victories in 2006 and 2007 at the wheel of a Focus RS World Rally Car, is now an ambassador for Ford of Europe and was on hand to pass on some of the experience he gained from his 18 years at the pinnacle of rallying. Former Formula One star David Brabham, former World Rally champion co-driver Robert Reid and current Stobart Ford WRC competitors Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin were also available to tutor instruct on driving technique and pace-noting skills, with practical one-to-one sessions throughout the day.
 
Curborough was seen as the perfect location to host such a high-profile training event due to its central location and first class facilities. With the venue having proved very popular with all the participants the organisers of the MSA Race and Rally Elite schemes hope to use it for training events on a regular basis in the future.
 
MSA Performance Director Robert Reid said:
“It was great to have both the MSA Race Elite and MSA Rally Elite scheme members working as one group. Both certainly took something from the collaboration, and the venue was ideal for both driver and co-driver tuition and as a place to bring potential sponsors to. I am looking forward to seeing how the members of both schemes use what they have learned here to help them progress in their respective disciplines.”