British Rally Championship contender Elliot Payne had a predicament. On the weekend which sees the fifth round of the series head to Rali Ceredigion in Aberystwyth for the first time, there is also a national gravel championship round taking place at the same time.
And the nineteen-year-old Fiesta Rally2 pilot has interests in both camps, as the gravel expert is in a good stead in the BTRDA championship, whilst he also wants to hone his skills in the BRC and so, entered both series in 2022.
But with both series having points scorers on the same day, he and co-driver Patrick Walsh were faced with a dilemma. Or were they?
With a little planning and a very generous offer from Dad Charles, Elliot has masterminded an action-packed weekend with two events, two difference surfaces and two cars.
“We chose to do both events simply because we need the results to try tie our championship for the BTRDA, as well as wanting to see how we go on asphalt again against the best in the country in the BRC at Ceredigion” says Payne.
He will use Charles’ Ford Fiesta Rally2 on the Woodpecker Rally in Ludlow with the event finishing late afternoon. He then has a mad dash across Wales to get to Aberystwyth in time to start Rali Ceredigion’s Saturday night stages and pick up his BRC campaign, behind the wheel of his familiar MangoGO liveried Fiesta.
“It’s certainly going to be tight” he continues.
“But hopefully if everything goes to plan on the Woodpecker then we will make it in time and run a little down the order for Rali Ceredigion. Our main hope is to win the Woodpecker as this would put us at a strong point for the BTRDA championship but let’s see what happens.
Thanks to my Dad for choosing not to do the Woodpecker and that means we have his car for the gravel and the MangoGO car for asphalt with the colourful livery everyone loves. We love a challenge!”
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