A TEENAGE rally driver from Eggleston is hoping to make a name for himself this year after excelling in his debut season.
Oliver Waggett only qualified to take part in the national F1000 Rally Championship last summer after turning14.
Having passed his BARS (British Association of Rally Schools) exam at the first time of trying in July last year, he competed in his debut rally at Leconfield.
Oliver said: “I was nervous to start with but it went pretty well. We had the pace we hoped for and I came ninth.”
His next race was at Harlech, in Wales, where the rally was delayed and extended into the night after a rainy day.
Oliver’s dad Steve, who is a former rally navigator and used to organise rallies at Hamsterley, said: “He learned a lot from that because it was dark.”
Despite having standard lights on his car, Oliver finished seventh and will be better prepared in the coming season with advanced lighting.
The young rally driver bought a 2006 Citroen C1 which has a standard one litre engine. His dad said: “They are really strict, there are very few mechanical modifications you can do. They are also really strict about the weight. They want it to be about ability not speed.”
Despite this, the F1000 rally championship, which caters for drivers aged between 14 and 17, can see drivers reaching speeds of between 70 and 80mph.
Mr Waggett said: “It surprised me how competitive it is.”
Oliver’s third and final race of last season, at Anglesey, in Wales, proved to be a good learning experience, where he accidently changed from third to second gear early on in the race and blew his engine.
The engine has since been replaced and he is hoping to take part in six rallies this year including events in Scotland and Wales.
In particular, he is looking forward to the McRae Rally Challenge, at the Knockhill Rally Track at Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Oliver said: “I would quite like to do that because a lot of rally drivers that I look up to will be there.”
Currently, the year 10 pupil at Teesdale School is enjoying support from Trevor Atkinson Groundworks, JW Bainbridge Contractors and PD Extinguishers, but is hoping to get local sponsors for the coming season.
Companies and businesses that want to support Oliver can email Mr Waggett at [email protected].
People can follow Oliver’s progress by searching for Oliver Waggett Rallying on Facebook or Instagram.
