Auction winner thrilled by co-driving experience

RSL Staff

– July 11, 2012Posted in: M-Sport, News, WRC

Supporting the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) – of which M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson, is a board member – and National Motorsport Week, M-Sport auctioned a once in a life time co-driving experience last week to raise over five hundred pounds for the Motorsport Foundation.

With three passionate rally fans battling it out for the rare opportunity to sit alongside Wilson in his historic Ford Escort Mk2 at this weekend’s Greystoke Stages, the winning bid was placed by Dave Nicholson – a Cumbrian local from Cleator Moor.

The Mk2 Escort is a favourite amongst die-hard rally fans and has enjoyed considerable success in its long and prestigious history. Continuing its predecessor’s unbeaten run on the RAC Rally – winning every year from 1975 to 1979 – the model claimed victory on a number of events around the world and transported Björn Waldegård and Ari Vatanen to the WRC Drivers’ titles in 1979 and 1981 respectively.

Wilson’s Escort Mk2 was built in 2008 for the end of season, historic Roger Albert Clark Rally – an event which Wilson and then co-driver John Millington won with 14 stage victories. On only its third outing, the car was used as the double zero car on this weekend’s Greystoke Stages with the lucky auction winner navigating two tests through the forest tracks.

In a twist to the tale, Nicholson forfeited the opportunity to sit alongside the former British Rally Champion in favour of his wife, Tammy, on the occasion of her birthday.

Speaking after the experience, Tammy Nicholson said:

“That was fantastic, and I didn’t scream once! The noise of the car was amazing and you don’t realise just how fast these guys go until you are actually sitting there. It was such a fantastic opportunity that I will always remember.”

Photo: Keith Robinson Photography