GOULD SIDELINED WITH SUSPENSION DAMAGE IN ULSTER
25/08/2009
Pirelli Star Driver Adam Gould retired from a potential podium position on the penultimate round of the British Rally Championship, the Ulster International Rally.
The 21-year-old was returning to the series for the first time following a big accident on the previous event. And, despite a cautious run from Bristol-born Adam, the Ulster lanes would hold more disappointment for the driver recognised as Britain's next big rally star.
Despite both Adam's vigilance and a handful of troubles early in the Antrim-based, two-day event event, the Pirelli-backed Subaru Impreza WRX was running in third place. But, in the 17-mile Slieve Gallion test, Adam's event ended with damage to the left-rear quarter of the car on Saturday afternoon.
Adam explained: "I was caught out by the car jumping further than I'd expected on this section. The car landed on the wet grass and we spun. The left-rear wheel clouted a fence post in the spin, this cracked the wheel and damaged the suspension. We were left at the side of the road, massively disappointed.
"I feel terrible for the whole team. Everybody had told me how much I needed to finish this rally. I knew how much I had to finish this rally and that's exactly what I was going to do. It's easy to say this has to be put down to experience, it's something I should have picked up on the recce and I'll be ready for it next time, but at the end of the day I've cost the TEG Sport team, Pirelli, my co-driver Seb [Marshall] and myself the chance of another result. And that's not good enough - particularly after all the work which had gone into getting the car ready for this event."
Adam's next event is the International Rally of Yorkshire (September 26), where Pirelli's Star Driver will be looking to sign off his programme in the best possible fashion. Having started the year with a tremendous fourth overall on the International Rally North Wales (Adam's first time competing in a four-wheel drive car) and then collected his first ever BRC podium on the Jim Clark International (his first time driving the car on asphalt) two rallies later, this year has already demonstrated the depth of Adam's rallying talent.
Having tasted both the highs and lows of the sport, Adam will be redoubling his efforts not only to end his own year on a high, but also to do all he can to help TEG Sport win the MSA British Teams' Rally Championship and ensure Pirelli the best possible coverage from the high-speed stages in and around Dalby forest.
