Haugh of Urr driver Keith Riddick is looking forward to contesting the Down Rally later this month as he looks to improve his driving skills on tarmac.
Riddick, who currently lies sixth in the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) 2WD Championship, will head to Northern Ireland with a subsidised entry into the event courtesy of becoming the inaugural SRC John Horton Star Driver Award winner last year.
This year’s Star Driver will receive a day’s tuition with Finnish legend Tapio Laukkanen, but last year’s recipient was able to select a European event that they wanted to contest. Riddick has chosen the Down Rally, a round of the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, and will be joined by sister Mairi Riddick for the first time since last season.
“Mairi and I are really looking forward to the Down Rally,” Riddick said.
“We chose to compete on the event as it sounds like a big challenge. Being part of the Northern Irish Championship and the new Asphalt Championship means there is sure to be some strong competition, with famous stages like Hamilton’s Folly bringing even more excitement to the event.
“The pressure is on a wee bit for us to perform with this being a prize drive, there’ll no doubt be more people paying attention to what we’re doing. I would love to try more closed road rallies but we’ll see how this one goes first and see what the future holds.”
The vast majority of Riddick’s rallying experience comes on gravel, having contested the BTRDA in his MG ZR before heading back to Scotland to do the SRC last season.
As both championships comprise of solely gravel events, competing on tarmac is something Riddick is eager to try.
Riddick wants to improve his tarmac driving – Image: Eddie Kelly Motorsport Photography
“We are busy at the moment making a few changes to the car to set it up for tarmac, nothing too major though,” he said.
“Our biggest test will be adapting the driving to tarmac however. We weren’t competing when the Jim Clark Rally was in the SRC so it’s something that we have never done properly, only once round the ranges at the Solway Coast. I hope it’s something that can be implemented into the SRC soon as it will make an already great championship even better.
“We really need to go there with an open mind regarding the final outcome. First and foremost we want to get to the end, and as usual we won’t be looking at times throughout the day. As long as we are having fun that’s the main thing as that’s what rallying is all about, a result would just be a bonus.”
Riddick’s prize drive has additional support from championship partners Pirelli and Andrew Wood Motorsport, who are providing him with assistance and advice on tyres for his potent ZR on the event.
The 2018 ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship is partnered by Pirelli Motorsport, Reis Motorsport Insurance and KNC Groundworks Ltd.
The championship consists of seven forest events across Scotland, taking in over 300 competitive stage miles.
The next round of the SRC is the Grampian Forest Rally on Saturday 11th August.
Keep up to date with all the latest news via the website, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #SRC18.
Riddick with the SRC John Horton Star Driver Award – Image: Eddie Kelly Motorsport Photography
