Darren Gass round two preview

GASS'S DEBUT JIM CLARK RALLY

Darren Gass and reigning BRC production champion co-driver Neil Shanks will contest this weekend's Jim Clark Rally with renewed vigour following their position as highest placed Super 1600 privateers on the opening round of the British Rally Championship in Carlisle back in May.

The team decided to miss June's Donegal International Rally so the car was fresh for the Kelso based event, but it will be Darren's first attempt at the all asphalt rally. "Neil has plenty of experience," explains the seventeen year-old, "he's done the rally every time since it began as a closed-road event so he should know where he's going. I'm really looking forward to the extra experience and I think it will suit the Fiesta."

"The roads are smoother than in Ireland but I'm under no illusion that they are equally tricky." said Darren, "There are seven in the class so we'll have to watch the times carefully, but I hope we can improve on the good start we made in May."

Amongst the Super 1600 category cars competing on the 150 stage mile even, are JWRC drivers Roman Kresta and Guy Wilks and reigning S1600 Champion driver Brian O'Mahoney but Darren is not fazed, "I'll be disappointed If the guys at the front disappear off into the distance but the main aim is to get to the finish and get another new event under my belt."

The rally gets underway on Friday afternoon with the cars leaving Kelso Square after an autograph session for fans at 15.00. The cars then tackle a challenging diversity of tarmac stages before finishing back in Kelso Square on Saturday afternoon with the first cars expected to finish at 17.30.

-www.darrengass.com