Iwan
18 September 2004, 12:56
I spent the day at the rally yesterday as a guest of SWRT. All i can say is it was one of the best rally experiences i've ever had.
We started off with coffee at the SWRT pit, then got bussed to Brechfa to watch a stage from the VIP area (spookily it was exactly where i camped last year as the stage has changed slightly!).
Then got bussed back to Felindre for lunch at the SWRT pit, followed by the chance to watch Petters car being serviced from inside the team area. It's amazing how they can change a bumper, radiator, intercooler and loads of other stuff in about 10 minutes flat.
Got my hat signed by Mikko Hirvonen (top bloke), and wished him good luck. Chatted to Luis Moya, said hello to Dave Lapworth, John Desborough (very tall guy!), Penny Mallory, Tony Mason, Colin McRae, Robbie Head and Robert Reid. Had a quick chat with the Peugeot team boss Corrado Provera (nice guy - huge cigar!). Managed to grab Petter and asked him how it was going, got him to sign my hat and wished him luck. Went for a mooch about (a SWRT team pass gets you in nearly everywhere!) and saw Markus Gronholm, Carlos Sainz and Marko Martin in the timecheck area.
Then we watched Petters next service for about 10 minutes before heading off to Walters Arena VIP area to watch the stage. It's a great facility with an amazing view!
Than back to the SWRT pit for coffee and another quick chat with Petter, Phil, Mikko and Jarmo before they headed off to be interviewed for TV. had another mooch about and saw Duval at the Ford pit, along with Malcolm Wilson.
In all it was an amazing day out, and i can't thank SWRT (Kristy in particular) enough for the experience they provided.
I got lots of pictures so i'll try and post some when i can get a photobucket account opened.
We started off with coffee at the SWRT pit, then got bussed to Brechfa to watch a stage from the VIP area (spookily it was exactly where i camped last year as the stage has changed slightly!).
Then got bussed back to Felindre for lunch at the SWRT pit, followed by the chance to watch Petters car being serviced from inside the team area. It's amazing how they can change a bumper, radiator, intercooler and loads of other stuff in about 10 minutes flat.
Got my hat signed by Mikko Hirvonen (top bloke), and wished him good luck. Chatted to Luis Moya, said hello to Dave Lapworth, John Desborough (very tall guy!), Penny Mallory, Tony Mason, Colin McRae, Robbie Head and Robert Reid. Had a quick chat with the Peugeot team boss Corrado Provera (nice guy - huge cigar!). Managed to grab Petter and asked him how it was going, got him to sign my hat and wished him luck. Went for a mooch about (a SWRT team pass gets you in nearly everywhere!) and saw Markus Gronholm, Carlos Sainz and Marko Martin in the timecheck area.
Then we watched Petters next service for about 10 minutes before heading off to Walters Arena VIP area to watch the stage. It's a great facility with an amazing view!
Than back to the SWRT pit for coffee and another quick chat with Petter, Phil, Mikko and Jarmo before they headed off to be interviewed for TV. had another mooch about and saw Duval at the Ford pit, along with Malcolm Wilson.
In all it was an amazing day out, and i can't thank SWRT (Kristy in particular) enough for the experience they provided.
I got lots of pictures so i'll try and post some when i can get a photobucket account opened.