New co-driver Andy Hayes was onboard for his first WRC event.
Strasbourg City Centre Stage. We had to Recce in electric cars provided by the organisers. Driving round the course, in the rally car, seeing yourself on live TV was a bit surreal.
Fixing power steering problems, a common failing with this car.
The stages are a mix of mountain roads, vineyards, and super specials. With huge crowds everywhere on all the road sections waving flags and shouting, adding greatly to the atmosphere and they even feed you !
Lots of pictures were taken of us, and lots of children sat in the car as we waited at stage starts. I think they saw us as easier to approach than the big teams and Andy was certainly a hit with the girls!
With so many spectators about completing the road sections in time was very hard. The police were very helpful escorting us down hard shoulders and creating rally contra flows.
The top competitors take huge cuts off the road and this means the tarmac is soon covered in a sea of mud. It is important to mark the cuts in your Recce as when you come to the rally you need to take them, despite any damage to the underneath of your car as if you don’t you will just skid off the road.
After the first day we had a Subaru R4 behind us doing super rally which meant we were passed on every stage. It was interesting to see how fast it was travelling and if we could hang onto it for a few corners.
The rally ended on the final day when a driveshaft broke after a stage start. Previously we had just been to re-group in a town having a party with DJ’s and loud music and much fun talking to spectators. It was a sad end to a great event.
Andy made up for it by going to Sebastian Loeb’s party, the picture says more than I could write. Sadly we had to go, but to add insult to injury the truck broke down so it was a long journey home involving Iveco assist. That’s rallying for you– highs and lows...
New co-driver Andy Hayes was onboard for his first WRC event. 
Strasbourg City Centre Stage. We had to Recce in electric cars provided by the organisers. Driving round the course, in the rally car, seeing yourself on live TV was a bit surreal. 
Fixing power steering problems, a common failing with this car.
The stages are a mix of mountain roads, vineyards, and super specials. With huge crowds everywhere on all the road sections waving flags and shouting, adding greatly to the atmosphere and they even feed you ! 
Lots of pictures were taken of us, and lots of children sat in the car as we waited at stage starts. I think they saw us as easier to approach than the big teams and Andy was certainly a hit with the girls!
With so many spectators about completing the road sections in time was very hard. The police were very helpful escorting us down hard shoulders and creating rally contra flows.
The top competitors take huge cuts off the road and this means the tarmac is soon covered in a sea of mud. It is important to mark the cuts in your Recce as when you come to the rally you need to take them, despite any damage to the underneath of your car as if you don’t you will just skid off the road. 
After the first day we had a Subaru R4 behind us doing super rally which meant we were passed on every stage. It was interesting to see how fast it was travelling and if we could hang onto it for a few corners. 
The rally ended on the final day when a driveshaft broke after a stage start. Previously we had just been to re-group in a town having a party with DJ’s and loud music and much fun talking to spectators. It was a sad end to a great event. 
Andy made up for it by going to Sebastian Loeb’s party, the picture says more than I could write. Sadly we had to go, but to add insult to injury the truck broke down so it was a long journey home involving Iveco assist. That’s rallying for you– highs and lows...
