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GUY WILKS – PERSONAL PROFILE |
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PRESS
INFORMATION Born:
22nd January 1981 Like so many youngsters, Guy’s first taste of driving a motor vehicle was behind the wheel of a tractor when he was seven. Initially, it was two-wheeled motorsport that attracted him, competing in motorcycle trials in his teens and it wasn’t until he was 19 before he sat behind a wheel of a rally car. Right from the start Guy showed his potential and in 2000 - his first ever season - he became Junior Champion in the Ford KA Championship. Spurred on by his early success, he contested the 1400 Puma series the following year and ended the season in a credible second place. In 2002 he moved-up again, with a full-season in the British Rally Championship driving a Super1600 Puma. Ironically, he finished second in the S1600 category behind Gwyndaf Evans, but his performance was good enough for him to get noticed and Ford offered him support and the use of a car for the 2003 Junior World Rally Championship. Guy did not disappoint and, after an exciting year, ended his inaugural season in the JWRC in sixth place, having scored podium finishes in Finland and Turkey. Again, his performance had impressed and, because of his obvious pace, Suzuki invited Guy to drive for its works team in 2004. It was a busy year, with both a full S1600 British Championship and JWRC programme ahead of him. A highly successful season concluded with Guy being crowned British Super 1600 Class Champion and a third place finish in the Junior World series, which included wins in Greece and Britain. Suzuki had no hesitation in retaining him for 2005 and a series of consistent results, topped with victory in Mexico, saw Guy emerge as runner-up in the JWRC. Now determined to become Junior World Champion at the third time of asking with Suzuki, 2006 brought with it wins in Argentina and Finland, but transmission failure on the final round, Wales Rally GB, robbed him of almost certain victory. Coupled with his trips overseas, Guy was also seen posting a number of excellent performances in the British Championship in 2006, his efforts rewarding the Suzuki GB operation with the British Team’s award. 2007 saw Guy invited to drive for the Mitsubishi Motors UK Works Team, which brought with it an opportunity to finally challenge for the outright British title. Grasping the opportunity with both hands, he went on to win five of the season’s seven rounds, culminating in him achieving his quest to become British Champion. In fact, his pace was such that he set more fastest stage times than all of the other BRC drivers put together. In addition, along with his team mate Gwyndaf Evans, Guy also helped secure the British Team’s Championship for Mitsubishi. Intent on developing his career, Guy also drove other cars in a number of WRC rounds during 2007, his best result being an excellent sixth overall and first private entry in Rally Ireland. Having proved he was the fastest Briton in 2007, Guy had put himself in pole position for reselection by the Mitsubishi team for 2008. So, together with his regular co-driver Phil Pugh, he will be out for nothing less than to retain his British title. ENDS |
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