After a six-year lay off, former works rally driver and current TV presenter Robbie Head will return to competition this year as he tackles his home series, the MSA Scottish Rally Championship (SRC).
Head, from Lanark, will benefit from the experience of co-driver Claire Mole and intends to rekindle his competitive career in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 when the series kicks off at the Snowman Rally in Inverness on Saturday 19 February.
With the backing of long-term sponsor Station Road Mitsubishi and SRC tyre partner DMACK Tyres, the Head Rally Team hopes to challenge for overall victory on Scotland’s premier rally series – which takes in what many regard to be some of the best forest roads in the UK.
Head’s competitive career started in 1986 and by 1990 he was a professional rally driver. During his 11-year career he was an official works driver for factory teams such as Honda, Ford, Renault and SEAT during the heyday of the British championship.
His experience and ability was recognised by Subaru in 1999 when Head took over the reigns as its official WRC test driver for three years.
Since 2001 Head’s wealth of knowledge has been put to good use as he entered the world of television sport and he has been presenting world and British rally coverage for Channel 4, ITV and Sky Sports for the last 10 years.
He has also assisted in the development of the UK’s top young drivers after representing the selection panel for the MSA British Rally Elite scheme and as a judge for a national star driver competition to help reward aspiring talent.
Head’s last competitive outing was on the Rally of South Africa in 2006 when he finished fourth overall. He last contested an SRC round in 2005 at the Speyside Stages rally in Elgin.
Robbie Head said: “I’m looking forward to what promises to be an exciting, but challenging, season in the Scottish Championship. Even though it’s my home championship, it’s a title I have never claimed. Competition in the series this year looks hotter than ever and with the impressive tyre rewards for competitors on offer from DMACK, it has never been a better time to contest the series.”
– Credit: www.rallybuzz.com