Welcome to the Website of International Rally Co-driver

Rachel Brockington

  
 
 

Below are some questions answered by Rachel on a whole host of topics to hopefully give you a better insight in to her life.    

How old are you? You should never ask a lady her age, but I will tell you as you asked nicely!! I am 31 and was born on the 10th of November 1975.
Where were you born? In Bristol, and brought up in Kingswood just outside of Bristol.
Where do you live? In a small village called Gilwern, near Abergavenny.
Are you married? Yes.  I have been married to Steve for 5 years.
Have you got any Children? No. I am far to busy rallying to have kids.
What is your real Job? Civil Servant
Does Steve your Husband like rallying? We both love it and are quite often at different rallies on the same day.
Any other hobbies? not much time for anything other than rallying! But I do like to do DIY stuff around the house when away from cars.
Your opinions  
Favourite food: I love mushrooms! Not got a sweet tooth would rather eat a starter than a dessert.
Favourite drink: A good belgium beer, something like Duva.l
Favourite motorsport paper / magazine: Pacenotes, it used to be Motorsport news but they have stopped following rallying as much now.
Favourite holiday destination: Egypt, went there for our honeymoon and the ancient bits are out of this world!
Which TV sports programmes do you watch? None really  just rallying.
Starting out  
How did you start out? Its all Steve's Fault!!! The first night we met he asked if I fancied a dirty weekend away in November. I said yes and didn't realise he meant the Rally of Great Britain!!
First driver you sat with: Another girl from our old Motor Club. She was called Eli Tanswell and we built the car ourselves with a bit of help from a few friends.
First event: Regency Stages 2001. A little single venue down in Somerset.
Rallying background  
Type of licence held: International
Which motor club do you belong to? Forresters Car Club
Do you contribute towards your rallying? No. Unless I am sitting with Steve and then I have to pay for everything! (Some may call him tight!!!!!)
Have you ever driven on a rally? I once drove a gravel sprint in one of my drivers Escort Cosworth. The look on his face was meant to be quite entertaining. I won a pot at least, so can't have been that bad!

Driving my first rally in 2007 using our Grp N Subaru.
Did you ever marshal on events? When and where? I have done Secretary of the meeting for a few single venue rallies that our club has organised.

I enjoy marshalling on events, but am normally sitting in the car rather than watching.
How many events do you get to watch? (eg. per year) Probably in the region of 4-8.
How many rallies do you take part in? (eg. per year) In the region of 20-30
Have you competed abroad? Where and when? All my foreign competing has been in Belgium, I love it there!

The people are nice and the food and drink there is great. Oh and the rallying is excellent too!!!
Your opinions (rallying)  
Favourite rally car: Peugeot 205 T16 Group B Rally car!!! MMMMMMMMmmmmm Gorgeous!!!!
Favourite rally driver: Steve (my husband, well I had to say that)

Also Peter Solberg.

Favourite rally co-driver: Louis Moya. Phil Mills in terms of a current competior.
Favourite bit of road or forest: Route 60 on Epynt! What a great stage with so many fast flowing corners if it goes well it is really good and fast, if the crew get it wrong it is really it can all end in tears.
Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events? I like maps but they are not really used much now, so am more at home with notes.
Things you dislike about rallying? Spectators that try to instigate accidents rather than just watch for the sport.
Rallying history  
Drivers you have sat with: Eli Tanswell, Frazer Martin, Calvin Leach, Steve (Hubby), Ian Sutton, Geoff Whittaker, Tony Gale, Andy Du Croq, Lee Carpenter, Tim Porter, Stuart Windsor, John Walker, Tony Perks, James Coulter, Mark Cresswell, Johny McDaid
Best driver you have ever sat with? I still sit with alot of them so don't want to shoot my self in the foot. I will claim the 5th on that one!!
Best result: 8th O/A on 24hrs of Ypres rally in 2006 in the International event.
Worst result: Woodpecker in 2005, did about 2 miles and the wheel studs sheared.  Annoying really when we had not hit anything!
Championships contested: National Tarmac, BTRDA, HRCR, ASWMC, Cotswolds
Best Championship result: 1st N2 in 2004 National Tarmac, 1st B10 BTRDA 2006, 1st E2 English Championship.
Best rally memory: ?
Strangest incident on a rally: Having to do a slalom around bunny rabbits in the middle of the stage at Caerwent.
Biggest accident: Hitting a tree on the Somerset stages head on. Also hitting a tree on Epynt at around 70mph, the car was not a well puppy after that!
If you had £100,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do? Set up a rally school to encourage new up and coming co-drivers.
Your future in rallying  
Where would you most like to compete (in the world): Barbados Rally carnival. You can guess why!
Which rally would you most like to compete in? Monte Carlo Rally
The future of rallying  
Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend? Craig Middleton. A quick boy with a really nice personality.
Which up-and-coming rally co-driver can you recommend? There are some up and coming navigators in our own motor club and I feel that there a few there that can do well given the opportunity.
What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers? Always stay in control!

 

 

  
 
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