Personal

Name:

Gemma Price 

Age:

21 

Marital status:

Single 

Children:

None 

Occupation:

Rally Co-Driver 

Place of birth: 

Wolverhampton

Country or county where you live:

UK 

Does your spouse / partner like rallying?

Boyfriend, Nick Bloxham is currently driving in Welsh Road Rally Championship and is the son of ex-Motoring News Champion John Bloxham – Yes, to say the least 

Any other hobbies?

Squash, badminton, learning to water-ski and reading 

Your opinions

Favourite food:

Anything Mexican 

Favourite drink:

The occasional Vodka and Orange – only after events of course!!!! 

Favourite motorsport paper / magazine:

Motorsport News 

Favourite sports person (other than rallying):

Paula Radcliff – a woman who is really successful in her sport.  

Favourite film star:

Thora Birch – a rising star 

Favourite holiday destination:

Anywhere hot and quiet 

Which TV sports programmes do you watch?

As many as I have time for 

Starting out

How did you start out?

Navigating for my Dad on the local car club’s navigational events and novice road rallies 

First driver you sat with: 

My Dad – Paul 

First event:

The Starlight Novice Road Rally 1997, aged 14!!! 

Rallying background

Type of licence held:

Rally International 

Which motor club do you belong to?

Wolverhampton and South Staffs 

Do you contribute towards your rallying?

I always try to put back in what I take out. I marshal on as many road rallies as I can and always organise a round of my car club’s winter navigational series. I also sit on the club committee. 

Have you ever driven on a rally?

No – a navigator through and through 

Did you ever marshal on events?  When and where?

Normally in Wales on a rainy, dark, and wet night – dedication for you! 

How many events do you get to watch?  (e.g. per year)

Normally quite a few but that will be dramatically decreased this year. 

How many rallies do you take part in?  (e.g. per year)

 6 - last year in the European Championship
This year (2003) 13 rounds of the WRC 

Have you competed abroad? Where and when?

All over Europe and once in Canada 

Your opinions (rallying)

Favourite rally car:

Ford Focus WRC – naturally, but the Peugeot T16s did rule their day 

Favourite rally driver:

Roger Clark 

Favourite rally co-driver:

Luis Moya – the most successful in history! 

Favourite bit of road or forest:

I have always loved the Isle of Man.  

Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?

Notes – it’s been a while since I used maps 

Things you dislike about rallying?

Not finishing! 

Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2003?

Colin McRae

Rallying history

Drivers you have sat with:

Paul Price – my Dad
Nick Bloxham
Vicki Price – my sister!!!
Dave Talbot
Bob Newell
Dave Williamson
Shelly Taunt
Dafydd Larcombe
Sarah Murray
Martin Laverty
Antony Warmbold 

Best driver you have ever sat with? 

Antony Warmbold, obviously – oh, and you too, Dad!!!!!

Best result:

2^nd overall in Turkey 2002 (European Championship) 

Worst result:

Retiring on the 1^st bend of the first stage on The Bulldog Rally – my own car club’s event! 

Championships contested:

Mintex
ANCRO
Ford KA
European Rally Championship 

Best Championship result:

1999 Junior Co-driver of the year ANCRO Championship and 1^st A5

5^th Overall Co-driver European Championship 2002 

Best rally memory:

Realising, aged 14, that I could beat the boys!!!!! 

Strangest incident on a rally:

Isle of Man, finding a KA on its roof in the middle of a stage spinning like a top!!!! 

Biggest accident:

None – yet - and none this year hopefully – touch wood!!!! 

Achievements gained from rallying:

Personal confidence, self-belief, travelling the world and turning a hobby into a career!!! 

Your current performance

Your current driver(s) and events or Championships being contested in 2003 

Antony Warmbold in the WRC.  We will do every round except for Australia in a Semi-Factory Ford Focus WRC 02

How could you improve your ‘own’ current performance?

Personal fitness and learn more – this year is a big year, and a chance to build a future for myself in the sport! 

How could you improve your current driver’s performance?

As I have only been co-driving with Antony for 2 years we are still building a good working relationship, so to improve on this and improve my own skills as an individual. 

If you had £50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do? 

Invest it in getting the British rally structure better organised to make it easier for drivers and co-drivers to progress into the international arena

Your future in rallying

Where would you most like to compete (in the world): 

I love the idea of the Paris – Dakar, a great adventure!

Which rally would you most like to compete in? 

Safari, I am disappointed that it has been removed from the calendar this year

Which driver(s) would you most like to co-drive for?

Antony – obviously 

Ambition in rallying for the future:

To progress into a full works team competing in the whole WRC, and stay there for quite a number of years! 

What would you like to put back into rallying?

I would like to see Britain at the forefront of worldwide motorsport and the British competitors benefit from that.  

The future of rallying

Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend?

Well, it is the time of the new rising stars isn’t it – too many to say really! 

Which up-and-coming rally co-driver can you recommend?

Myself, of course!!!!  

What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers?

Never give up, no matter what, and no matter how far away your goal is, keep aiming for it! Just do your job right! 

Any other comments

There should really be more women within rallying.  It’s good fun and the boys aren’t as bad as they appear. The more women the better as far as I’m concerned!!!  

 posted 31/1/03

In 2005, Gemma Price offers co-driver training courses in the UK

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