Story: Evan Rothman
Pictures: IRC Series
An accomplished co-driver, Martin Brady is a proud Irishman and a regular HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS columnist. In this EXCLUSIVE first part of a two-part interview, read about his IRC ambitions, humorous moments and high-speed rally driving.
H&H: Irish rallying is highly competitive and well established. With club, regional and national events, rallying is very healthy. Please tell our readers more about rallying in your homeland.
MB: “Ireland is a relatively small island, but for sure we have a solid and renowned rally culture and history. This is partly because of our unique tarmac roads and the fact that we can – with local authorities’ permission – close these public roads for competition. And, this in partnership with dedicated and competent volunteers of the local motor clubs allows, us classic rallies such as Donegal, Killarney Rally of the Lakes or the Circuit of Ireland.
“We also have a plethora of smaller national and clubman rallies that also use closed public roads, but we also have some brilliant forestry rallies in the calendar so there is something for everyone. Practically every weekend has at least one event to compete on.
“That said, the economic downturn has hit all aspects of life in Ireland and sport is one thing to suffer and with motorsport being such a financially critical endeavour, it has obviously seen a slow down. Gone are the days when Ireland had over sixty, yes that’s right sixty, ex-works world rally cars on its shores and we had rally entry lists with a reserve listing of over 100 entries in many cases. For the moment it seems those days are gone but still rallying has leveled off to a still exciting and popular spectacle on the Irish stages there are still currently over 3,000 license holders in southern Ireland so that’s a strong indication that the future of the sport is solid.
H&H: As a co-driver, you have also competed across your borders. How does that compare?
MB: “For me the troubles on the Island were luckily really something I only saw on TV and by the time I found my way into motorsport, the physical border between Northern and Southern Ireland was reduced to a sign on the side of the roads so in my mind and experience there is or has not been any border in motorsport on the island of Ireland.
“I think my fourth ever event was the Newry and Mourne Rally that had stages on both sides of the border, and it was as natural a thing then as it is now. Obviously, Rally Ireland was a seminal event in many senses as it showed to a worldwide audience that sport was something that worked perfectly across the borders in the country. It was a proud thing I think for all of us involved in that event – be it as an organiser or a competitor – but for me the only effect it has on me is my phone bills are more expensive for a rally up north than it is down south. Phone companies are very border sensitive even if rally crews aren’t!
“Outside of this island, I am always proud to compete as an Irishman and with an Irish flag as Ireland has a good pedigree in many fields of international sport. Although, I did abandon the ‘tricolour’ on one occasion, to align myself as an American for the purposes of the Rally of Nations 2009 in Mexico. I doubt having the ‘Stars and Stripes’ beside my name for just one event will get me an invite to the White House any time soon – only because we rolled out of the event and put the flag decidedly upside down.
H&H: With international events on your resume, what is your favourite event?
MB: “I would honestly struggle to pick a favourite. Mexico was an amazing experience because of the people and the welcome they gave us. Monte Carlo was a dream realised just to compete on a rally of such history and prestige after watching my heroes on those very stages as a rally obsessed school boy.
“Each rally means something different to me and is a favourite for a certain reason. However, the one rally that would mean the most to me is the Circuit of Ireland as it’s the event that got me interested in rallying and is most prestigious even to the man on the Irish street even if that person knows nothing else of rallying. Everyone knows that rally; it is such a giant in Irish sporting folklore that it’s the one rally that I always like to be involved in.
H&H: You have partnered with Daniel Barry for selected IRC events this year….
MB: “Yes, Daniel and I have been competing together for almost two years now and spanning 3 seasons. We have a good track record together, and with his help I won the 2008 United Kingdom (UK) Mitsubishi Challenge and National UK Group N titles. Together we went on to both win those titles in 2009.
“We wanted to take the next step after that, and we decided to brave the challenges of the IRC for selected rounds. Little did we think that two rounds in our heretofore perfect mechanical reliability record would depart us and results in Monte Carlo and Gran Canaria have been blighted by hard luck tales of mechanical woe. It’s character building, that’s for sure, but its also gut-wrenching for such a small family team that works so hard to get to the events with a car that has hours and hours of home preparation only for unavoidable problems on event.
“Nevertheless we don’t give up easy and we are continuing in IRC and will not let it break our stride. Our next trip is to another iconic event with Ypres.
H&H: With hard luck in your 2010 IRC runs so far, how does a co-driver handle this? For instance, a driver makes a mistake while in a strong position, how do you handle that disappointment and frustration after a weeks-long preparation and hard work?
MB: “One thing that always resonates with me about this sport was said to me by a driver right after a sixth gear roll that cost us the win of a rally just half a mile from the end of the final stage. As we walked away from the car, he somewhat disappointedly but philosophically said: “It is what it is.” And that’s the thing as frustrating as it can be there is nothing you can do to change it.
“You work as hard as you can to get the best result you can and if something happens to scupper that, well what can you do but only accept it and try dig in deeper and make the best of the situation. That is a strength of some drivers. Daniel Barry in particular, refuses to let something adverse stop him from trying 100%.
“For me, all I can do is try soak up some of the pressure in the car and ensure I don’t compound any problems by losing my composure and making a silly situation that will make a bad situation much worse.
“It’s the day after the rally when the frustration and regret can set in. You don’t have time for it in the heat of battle; the highs in motorsport are never enough to balance out the lows, sometimes.
H&H: Plans for the rest of 2010?
MB: “Obviously, the rest of our IRC programme is the priority in the Barry Motorsport camp. Outside of that I am sure I will have some other rallies to compete on with other drivers. I just have to balance that with the commitments of the IRC.
“Normally each year I would compete on 25 to 30 events; this year I know it will be less and I have found myself reluctantly having to decline some very good opportunities. I have to be mindful of what I had planned from the start of the year, as well as commitments to my family life and my two young daughters and holding down a full time job as a police officer, an extra day in the week would help sometimes. Regardless, I have no complaints: I expect to be busy pursuing a great hobby strapped into fast cars for the remainder of the year.
H&H: What is your recipe for a successful partnership with drivers?
MB: “Trust is the most obvious and the most important. You can call away at notes all day long, but that final element of perfection will only come out once you trust the person beside you 100%, no questions and equally they must trust you. I have been at breakneck speeds with drivers I trust and I have been fully relaxed and it makes the job so much easier than sitting beside someone at an average speed but being nervous that any particular corner could be the one that you wont get all the way around.
“Outside of that, I think friendship, or certainly mutual respect, is important in the car. Its a high pressure place to sit at times and if you are friends, or at least can respect each others effort and ability then, I think it makes the critical difference between a partnership instead of just an arrangement.
H&H: What is your pacenote reading style? Do you adapt your style for different cars and drivers?
MB: “I think my style is how can I put this… Decidedly Irish: I repeat a lot of notes, I am always talking, I change my voice incessantly, the tone the pitch the emphasis, the use of language and then I repeat some more just for good measure.
“Sometimes its more of a story telling than just plain pacenotes, but to date it has worked I have been very lucky to have been in very few accidents so it seems to help keep the show on the road.
“I never give much great thought or analysis to my style; I just read what’s on the page and try my best. For sure, this constant stream of information does not work for every driver and some do want it very much corner distance and shut your mouth till the next one is needed. In some cars you won’t have the time and road space to be gossiping on, but you adapt to each car, each driver and each day of the week as you feel it through the seat of your pants while hurtling down a stage.
