Big weekend for rookie rally-driver Rhys Yates in British Championship

The 23-year-old Yates, driving a Fiesta R5, sits ninth in the championship after an impressive sixth place in the all-asphalt Circuit of Ireland Rally last month, which was his first-ever closed-road event.

Now his Brettex Site Services-backed car returns to gravel for a two-day blast in the Pirelli Carlisle Rally, through Kielder Forest on the Scottish Borders.

Yates, who is supported by Michelin, had also started the season promisingly at the Mid-Wales Stages of the championship in March when just failing to capitalise on eyecatching early pace.

And although he has a limited knowledge of the other stages in the series, the Carlisle Rally could provide him with an advantage because he has tackled the tricky forests before -- when contesting a British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) event last year, albeit in a vastly different Fiesta R2 car.

Along with co-driver Tom Woodburn, Yates has set his sights firmly on more points to add to his tally and climb further up the leaderboard, which is awash with experienced drivers.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the confident Chesterfield ace said: “It’s going to be great to get back on to the gravel again with the R5 and although many people fear the stages in Kielder, I’m really looking forward to them.

“The forest is legendary and can certainly catch out the unwary. But I did really well there last year and the stages can be really satisfying when you get

them right.

“Of course, the speed difference will be quite significant, but I learned about the car quickly in Ireland, so I’m sure I can do it again.”

The Carlisle Rally has a unique format which should suit the Fiesta pilot. He added: “We had a great opening loop on the Mid-Wales Stages and showed a good pace.

“This weekend is pretty much two sprints on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, so providing we get a good start, I’m hoping to get more points on the board and see if we can move up a bit closer to the leaders.”

British Rally Championship crews will start the event at around midday on Saturday, returning just before dark to the rally base at the H&H Group headquarters in Carlisle. Sunday kicks off at 8.30 am for the remaining stages before finishing at midday back in Carlisle.

After this weekend, there will be four more rounds of the championship -- the RSAC Scottish Rally at Dumfries on June 25, the Nicky Grist Stages in Builth Wells, Wales on July 9/10, the Ulster Rally on August 19/20 and the Rally Isle of Man at Douglas on September 15-17.

As well as Brettex Site Services and Michelin, Yates is supported by NGK Spark Plugs, MSL Motorsport and Simpson.