CLASS AWARD FOR BILL GWYNNE / DANIEL O’BRIEN


At 68 years of age most men develop a liking for the quieter things in life. Spending the weekend gardening, reading the papers and the occasional relaxing drive in the country.
Bill Gwynne doesn’t really do gardening or the papers but he does do drives in the country – though his are of a more competitive nature!
On a very wet Sunday in July he drove around 50 miles of mid-Wales countryside as fast as he could in a Ford Fiesta ST. He wasn’t admiring the countryside much. He was coaching Daniel O’Brien, his 16 year old co-driver, in the ways of rallying’s ‘Office Manager’. Daniel, the 2008 British Junior RallyCross Champion, is waiting for his 17th birthday to begin driving and is co-driving on a few events to help him develop an appreciation of the role.
Surprisingly Gwynne, in a rally career spanning nearly 40 years, had never competed in a front wheel drive car and was very impressed with the Fiesta ST:
“It handles really well which made the fast flowing sections a lot of fun and had impressive torque up the steep climbs.”
In the event’s largest class, won by Geraint Mills/Jonny ‘Tad’ Evans (Opel Manta 400), Gwynne and O’Brien finished a very creditable and comfortable third in class, the only front wheel drive car in a class dominated by MkII Ford Escorts.
Daniel had already won an event co-driving for his father, and overall winner of this event, Mick ‘O Brien (Ford Focus WRC 03) and was delighted to add to his trophy collection:
“I had a great day learning from Bill, about driving as well as co-driving. The conditions were really tough but he really pedalled it, I was really impressed. Our class award was a surprise bonus against all the rear wheel drive cars.”
Bill Gwynne
“Daniel did a great job and we’ve improved his knowledge of the co-driver’s role which will help him as a driver. He’s a very promising young man, I’m looking forward to working with him as his rally career develops.”