RISING Helensburgh rally star Fraser Anderson has made a successful start to his competition year – after a disappointing end to 2021.
The Shandon youngster was forced to miss the final three rounds of last year’s British Rally Championship Academy Trophy due to persistent technical troubles with his Ford Fiesta R2T which were outwith the driver’s control.
But with a new set of wheels in the shape of a 2018 Ford Fiesta Rally4, a new competition in the shape of the Junior British Rally Championship and, if he can secure the budget, a new team, Taylor’s Motorsport, to run the car, Fraser was back in action in the Galway International Rally last weekend – and it didn’t take him long to catch the eye.
READ MORE: Anderson 'devastated' after crash ends Yorkshire rally chances
Over the six stages run on the second of the event’s two days, he took four stage wins and one second place in the RC4 class over a total distance of 105km – not bad for his first closed-roads rally and his first time competing in Ireland.
Reflecting on the weekend, Fraser said: “Coming into the first stages I knew it was going to be a challenge being my first ever closed road rally, having no experience with the car, conditions or even knowledge of the wet Pirelli tyre.
“A half spin which resulted in a small hole in the radiator put us out of day one, which was disappointing. But we persevered and looked forward to the second day of competition.
“To my surprise we managed to bag four stage wins out of six, which was a very positive end to an incredibly tricky weekend.”
A new championship, a new set of wheels and a new team: but one thing that is very much the same for Fraser, and all aspiring motorsport stars, this year and every year is the need to attract sponsors to help meet the cost of running the car in competition throughout the year.
The Rally4 car was purchased with the help of Paul and Donnie of Baxter & Gillespie Ltd, John Kyle of enthusiastic motorsport sponsors Cardowan Creameries and Brian Donnelly of Health and Safety Services (Glasgow).
READ MORE: Teen rally star Fraser takes podium place in Lake District event
But there’s plenty of space on the Fiesta’s eye-catching livery for new sponsors and, as always, an urgent need for more support to get Fraser on the next rung of his motorsport ladder.
To find out more about corporate backing for Fraser’s efforts, get in touch with George Anderson on georgeande@btinternet.com or contact Fraser direct through the Fraser Anderson Rallying Facebook page.
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