Stuart Jones
At just 24 years old, Stuart Jones has achieved what some rally drivers strive, throughout their careers to accomplish. This dynamic youngster has won numerous rallies and Championships, and has experienced rear wheel, front wheel and four wheel drive rallying.
Driving a Talbot Sunbeam, Stuart began rallying shortly after his 17th birthday. He competed in numerous events to gain valuable experience behind the wheel. As Stuarts driving progressed he moved to a Peugeot 206 Cup Car and won the 2002/3 Peugeot 206 Winter Cup Championship, a notable championship in British Rallying at the time.
Stuart continued in the popular Peugeot 206 Super Cup Championship for two years. In 2004 he dominated the championship with four wins and he became the youngest ever Peugeot 206 Super Cup Champion. This was a fantastic achievement at an early stage in Stuarts rallying career. Aside from contesting the Peugeot Super Cup, Stuart competed at the wheel of a LHD Proton Satria Super 1600, this gained him valuable experience in a left hand drive car. Competing in various rallies with the Peugeot and Proton saw Stuart win the 2004 Welsh National Championship.
In 2005, Stuart moved up to the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge. Demonstrating his natural speed, he won five of the eight events in the series and finished the championship second in the standings. He was crowned 2005 Evo Challenge Junior Champion, MSA National Gravel Production Cup Champion and MSA National Gravel Junior Champion. To finish a highly successful season Stuart also took the title of Welsh National Champion for a second consecutive year.
Stuart’s driving ability did not go unrecognised, having been selected as a member of the Motor Sports Association British Rally Elite Scheme. The selected members are identified as the most promising of the new generation of rally drivers within the United Kingdom.
In 2006 Stuart progressed up to the British Rally Championship where he again proved his ability, setting a number of fastest stage times against the top British Drivers. He also continued with the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge. He led the last two rounds of the BRC and an outstanding drive on Wales Rally GB resulted in a fight back from mechanical maladies to a podium finish. This saw Stuart being awarded the Richard Burns Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the highest placed British junior amateur driver.
In 2007 Stuart made the biggest and most exciting step of his rallying career to date, when he contested the Production World Rally Championship. The rounds which Stuart and the team nominated to compete in took them to Mexico, Argentina, Greece, New Zealand, Ireland and finally their home event Wales Rally GB. The year proved to be a very tough year as the Stuart was plagued with mechanical problems. However Stuart’s efforts in the PWRC did not go unrecognised and he was given the opportunity to drive the new MG S2000 Sport in the final round, Wales Rally GB. During the event he set a second & a third fastest time in the PWRC and an 8th fastest time overall in difficult driving conditions.
The original plan was a two year assault on the PWRC, the first year to learn the events and the second to challenge for the championship win. A second year in the PWRC proved to be impossible due to a lack of budget. Stuart feels it was an invaluable year as he learnt a great deal, which has helped his driving and mental attitude progress greatly. He also has experience of competing in the World Championship events, with a total of 10 World Rally starts to his name.
Stuart showed great promise in the MG S2000 Sport during Wales Rally GB and for 2008 he is at the wheel of an MG S2000 Sport for a full programme in the British Rally Championship. This is a fantastic opportunity and a new challenge for Stuart as he is driving for a works team in a new generation of car. Stuarts start to the season was very strong, which resulted in a second overall standing in the British Rally Championship after the Jim Clark International Rally. Mechanical problems in the Isle of Man resulted in a none finish but Stuart is determined to keep his championship hopes alive when he returns to the BRC on the Ulster Rally in August.
Stuart will be making a return to the British Rally Championship for 2009, at the wheel of an Evo X. This is an exciting opportunity for Stuart and he aims to challenge for the overall British Championship title. His ultimate aim is to compete at the forefront of the World Rally Championship and to become World Rally Champion, an ambition which he is confident he can achieve given the opportunity.
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