Winning Weekend for Jemma

Carlisle co-driver, Jemma Bellingham, scored success at the weekend in two different rallies.

Jemma, who turned 26 on Saturday, celebrated her birthday by competing in the Malcolm Wilson Rally based in Cockermouth. Co-driving for Windermere-based Gary Tomlinson in a Team Kankku Subaru Impreza, the pair tackled stages in Greystoke, Grizedale and Whinlatter Forests.

“The stages on this rally are some of the best and also some of the trickiest in the country. From the fast stages in Whinlatter to the rough and technical stages in Grizedale. But we kept it together and got to the finish of the rally without any car troubles.” said Jemma.

Jemma navigated Gary Tomlinson to 15th overall on the rally and 3rd in class B13.

From the forest stages to tarmac, Jemma moved south to Wigan on Sunday, to compete in the Roskirk Stages at Three Sisters Circuit, navigating for 16 year old Ashley Slights from York.

The rally was the first round of the Junior F1000 Rally Championship, a brand new championship for 14-16 year olds to rally cars with an engine capacity of 1litre, before they turn 17. The move by the Motorsports Association (MSA), allows competitors aged 14 to 16 to compete in ‘grassroots’ rallying.

The pair rallied a Slights Rallysport-backed Toyota Yaris, which 16 year old motorsport-student, Ashley, built in his fathers workshop.

Ashley dominated the rally from the beginning, setting the fastest time on the first stage, which he kept up throughout eleven of the twelve stages.

The pair went on to win the rally by 10 seconds from fellow junior, Cameron Davies.

Speaking after the event, Jemma said “It really couldn’t have gone any better for us. It was the first time all of the Juniors had driven competitively and they were setting times comparable to some of the veteran competitors. The Junior F1000 championship is an excellent way for young people to get into rallying and these young drivers proved they have all the talent needed to go all the way. Ashley drove brilliantly all day. He was left-foot braking and taking lines through corners that you’d expect of a rally driver with much more experience. To win the rally was a brilliant confidence boost for him and it just topped off an excellent weekend of rallying.”

Ashley has made history as the youngest person ever to win a stage rally in the UK.

Jemma will co-drive for Ashley Slights on the next round of the championship, the Lee Holland Memorial Stages in Anglesey in April.

Jemma is also contesting the full British Rally Championship in a Suzuki Swift with up and coming Australian driver Molly Taylor. The Bulldog Rally is the first round which takes place on 28th March in Mid-Wales.