MSA British Rally Elite Confirms 2009 Intake

The best young rally stars in the UK have been selected to join the MSA British Rally Elite scheme during the 2009 season.

Applications for places opened on December 10th 2008 and closed on Friday January 23rd 2009, and the scheme was once again vastly oversubscribed by talented young rally competitors looking to make the grade.

A shortlist of 24 were invited for the final assessment, and following a full day of rigorous interviews at Motor Sports House a selection panel consisting of Mike Broad, Robert Reid, Guy Wilks, James Attwood and David Higgins decided on those most likely to benefit from the advanced support provided by the scheme.

Six competitors were chosen for the MSA Rally Elite –drivers Alastair Fisher, Adam Gould, Kris Hall and Jason Pritchard, along with co-drivers Gareth Roberts and Seb Marshall. Fisher, Gould and Pritchard are all returning to the Elite scheme for a second year, while Hall Marshall and Roberts have been promtoted form the Academy level.

A further five competitors were picked for the MSA British Rally Academy – including drivers Dave Weston Jr, Euan Thorburn, Martin McCormack, John MacCrone and co-driver Drew Sturrock.

The judging panel was extremely impressed by the high level of talent and determination to succeed displayed by all of the youngsters interviewed that are currently competing in UK rallying - and believe this bodes well for the future of the sport. The new selection of Elite and Academy members will be brought together for the first time at Edinburgh University on March 23/24 in order to begin their tailored fitness and sports psychology programmes.

In 2008 Elite scheme members proved their potential by picking up a string of prestigious rally honours. Adam Gould won the Pirelli UK Shootout and was nominated to represent the UK at the Pirelli Euro Shootout, Jason Pritchard won the C2R2 UK Cup won class R2 and was first two-wheel-drive car in the British Rally Championship, Jonny Greer won the BRC Privateers’ Cup, Alastair Fisher was runner-up in the Irish Fiesta SportingTrophy and was awarded an FST Scholarship, while James Wozencroft, Adam Gould and Jason Pritchard all secured places in the Pirelli UK Shoot Out.

Academy members also demonstrated their abilities as Martin McCormack won the C2R2 Irish Cup, Gareth Roberts was winning co-driver in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK and Ireland, and Kris Hall won a place in the FST International Shoot Out as the UK wildcard and finished runner-up in the final.

MSA British Rally Elite Performance Adviser Phil Mills said: “It was heartening to see so many enthusiastic applicants for the scheme. The quality of entrants was extremely high and it is just a pity there are so few places available for so many deserving entrants. Anyone who didn’t get onto the scheme this time should not be disheartened, as I am sure they will have a great chance of getting in next year if they keep working as hard and as professionally as possible throughout the forthcoming season.”

To find out more about the MSA British Rally Elite scheme log on to www.msabritishralllyelite.co.uk