GOULD CHASES MORE OF THE SAME IN KIELDER
14/04/2009
Pirelli Star Driver Adam Gould is aiming to repeat the astonishing top-five finish he achieved on the opening round of the British Rally Championship, when the series arrives in Carlisle for the second date on the calendar later this week.
The Pirelli International Rally is recognised as one of the toughest rallies in one of Britain’s most unforgiving woods – and 21-year-old Adam should know; he’s started this Kielder forest event three times and suffered mechanical failure three times. Come Saturday afternoon, the finish will be a welcome sight for Gould and Seb Marshall, who co-drives the Bristolian in his Pirelli-liveried Subaru Impreza WRX.
Gould made a near-perfect start to his season as Pirelli’s UK Star Driver, belying his complete lack of experience of either four-wheel-drive or a turbocharged engine to finish round one just off the podium in fourth position. That result on the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales has given Gould a major shot in the arm ahead of this week’s event.
“Getting points and mileage in Wales was exactly what we wanted,” he said, “it was definitely a tick in the box. And I want more of the same on the Pirelli. I want to finish in the top five and get more points, that’s what these early season rounds are about for me: mileage and points on the board.”
Gould admits, however, that an exceptional entry for the Pirelli International Rally will make this an even tougher test than on round one.
“In Wales, I was delighted with the result, it was just what I wanted. But that’s raised my own expectations and it’s raised my expectations of what I want to deliver for Pirelli and for the team running the car. That said, this is a fantastic entry – I reckon it’s got to be one of the strongest in the BRC for years, which is certainly going to make the job harder for me to repeat that result. Having said that, these are the best guys for me to benchmark myself against, so I can’t wait to get going.”
Gould’s event will begin with a shakedown test on Thursday, before the rally proper gets underway with a brace of early evening tests on Friday night. Saturday provides the mainstay of the action, however, with three loops of stages. The event finishes back at Carlisle Racecourse (which also provides the central service area) at 1945 on Saturday.
“I know Kielder and I don’t have the best of relationships,” said Gould, “but I’m determined to change all of that this week. I like the roads up there. The good thing about them is that, unlike Wales, whatever the weather, we’re likely to get a fairly consistent level of grip from the surface. There’s a good mix of stages as well, some nice quick stuff and some technical. For sure, Friday night could be tough. I don’t think it will be dark, but we could be in for some low, setting sun – that’s providing it’s not pouring with rain. Whatever the weather, I’m after a top-five.”
