Duns rally driver Garry Pearson will make an exciting switch to a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 for the rest of the British Rally Championship season.
Pearson, a four-time national rally champion, has driven both a Ford Fiesta Rally2 and more recently a Skoda Fabia R5 since stepping up to the BRC last year.
But the switch to a Polo, run by Melvyn Evans Motorsport, puts him with the car and team that has won both the 2021 and 2022 British titles and 11 of the last 15 BRC rounds.
The Scotsman’s first event in his new car will be his home event, the Jim Clark, on May 26/27.
“I’m incredibly excited to announce that we will be using a Polo from Melvyn Evans Motorsport for the rest of the season,” Pearson said.
“We know that the Polo is proven on the events that we’re going to, and Melvyn Evans Motorsport are going to be able to provide us with good help and feedback on the events and give us a good starting point in terms of set-up.
“The car and team have won the previous two British championships so it’s a good step for us to drive this car and learn from these guys.
“We are sure we have the right package to unlock our full potential.”
Pearson moves on from Dylan Davies Rallying on good terms.
“The Skoda was a one-event deal to start us off this season,” he explained.
“Dylan Davies was great, he helped us out last season and the start of this season, but through no fault of Dylan’s we’ve decided to try the Polo for the rest of the year given its proven winning capability in the BRC.
“I cannot wait to get my first try in the car and see what we can do for the rest of the year.”
But Pearson will be doing so with a heavy heart after the rallying world lost Hyundai World Rally Championship star Craig Breen earlier this week.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to pay my respects to Craig Breen,” Pearson said.
“Craig for me was the life and soul of rallying in the WRC. He lived and breathed rallying wearing his heart of his sleeve, holding back no emotion.
“We thought long and hard about when to announce our plans after the tragic news, but Craig wouldn’t have wanted any of us to stop enjoying the sport he loved so much.
“My thoughts are with Craig’s family, close friends and many fans around the world.”
Pearson is supported by Billie Bowie Special Projects, Hankook UK, Asset Alliance Group, George Anderson General Builders, Solid Fuel Hub, Husqvarna, R.L Smith & Sons, Brick & Steel Construction and Morris Lubricants
