Molly's Blog - 13th June 2011

Hi everyone
I guess I must have had enough ‘down time’ over the last week or two, because the pace is starting to hot up again.
I spent last Friday in Paris for a meeting of the FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission. The meeting went really well, but I’m kicking myself that I didn’t organise to stay in Paris for the weekend.  I caught the train from Paris airport into the city and then walked alongside the river to the FIA building and the city looked so beautiful.  I could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance which made me stop and think ‘hey I’m really in Paris!’

My little green Fiesta is now in full tarmac spec for the Rally of the Midlands (June 17-18). It’s a round of the British Asphalt Rally Championship. The appeal is that it is a tarmac event, and I am keen to gain more tarmac experience before the WRC round in Germany. I haven’t spent any time on tarmac in the Fiesta yet so this will be an opportunity to get a feel for the car. The rally is 145km of competitive stages, at five different venues like airfields and army bases but it is all tarmac, so I’m hoping there will be some surfaces and road conditions similar to what we’ll experience in Germany.

Also new is that I will have Seb Marshall co-driving for me, beginning with the Midlands Rally.  In 2010 Seb co-drove for British driver Harry Hunt in a Ford Fiesta R2. They contested the JWRC, and selected rounds of the IRC.  They won the Rookie cup in the JWRC and claimed 2WD honours for the IRC. I am sure I will benefit from his previous experience with the next WRC rounds.

Also on the calendar and something I am very excited about is an invitation to be part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 1-3).  The festival includes a Forest Rally Stage which I will have the opportunity to compete on over the three days.  I was thrilled to be put forward for this by the International Rally Drivers’ Club.  Goodwood is described as the largest motoring and motorsport garden party in the world!  Apparently it is just the most amazing atmosphere because everyone who is anyone in motor sport attends, past and present.  It is a huge celebration of cars and motorsport, held within the grounds of Goodwood House.

Some of the rally drivers attending this year include Kris Meeke, Dani Sordo, Ken Block, Jimmy McRae and Juha Kankkunen, but there are plenty of stars from other categories too including current Formula One drivers Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock, Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber.
On top of that there are many famous former champions such as Stirling Moss and Nigel Mansell.

It will be amazing just to see all those guys in one place at one time. I don’t know yet what my program will be, but I’ll definitely be trying to get out and see as much of the action as I can. Must remember to take the camera!

Once that weekend is over and done with, it will be all systems go, gearing up for a rally in Estonia en route to the next round of the WRC in Finland at the end of July. Whilst I have enjoyed the quiet time over the last couple of weeks, I can’t wait to get back in the car.....

Cheers Molly.