The Ford Fiesta S2000 needs no introduction to South African (and international) rally fans. This mighty machine built by M-Sport in the United Kingdom has swept to numerous rally victories the world over in the most trying conditions. With the likes of Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala and Matthew Wilson as test and development drivers for this rally car, it comes as no surprise to see its superior form on stages and leading rallies.
Jon Williams needs no introduction to rally enthusiasts the world over, but a little refreshing will do no harm. As winner of the Pirelli Star Driver selection in 2008, he contested the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver series over selected rounds of the World Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. In fact, this talented driver came out tops in this challenge! Williams, a rising rally talent in South Africa before heading over to Europe to compete in the Pirelli-backed series in 2009, piloted a Volkswagen Polo S2000. His driving skill and determined personality saw him fight for a seat in the South African Rally Chmapionship for 2011, after he was unable to secure a drive in time for start of the 2010 season. This is his first season back in action after more than a year out of a rally car and his performance on this past weekend’s HMC Rally where he claimed sixth position overall.
In this article’s accompanying photographs, the gentleman sitting alongside Williams may look familiar to some eagle-eyed World Rally Championship fans: Markko Martin. Martin was factory Ford WRC driver alongside double WRC Champion Marcus Gronholm. After his retirement from the WRC as a driver, Martin busied himself as development driver with the Subaru World Rally Team and he turned his attention to mentoring up-and-coming young drivers. His latest protégé is Ott Tanak, the Estonian driver who sensationally finished seventh overall in the WRC Rally d’Italia Sardegna to finish ahead of WRC cars.
Team SASOL, the latest and quickest privateer team to enter into the hotly contested Class S2000, has been gaining on the factory entries from Volkswagen and Toyota in the last three events. This team was launched one week ahead of the start of the season, and at the team’s launch Markko Martin presented the cars to drivers Jon Williams and Mark Cronje. Martin has no direct role in the team, but he has taken Jon Williams under his wing…
Jon’s first session in the car was with Markko in the car alongside him, pushing him and offering insight into the car and driving skill. What more could you ask for? Markko and Jon spent a day putting the car through its paces, and such guidance from a driver as experienced and knowledgeable from Markko has proven its value. With each successive stage, Jon is moving closer to the podium!