Personal

Name:

Mark Mason

Age:

45

Marital status:

Divorced

Children:

None

Occupation:

Account Manager for software company

Place of birth:

Newcastle upon Tyne

Country or county where you live:

Newcastle

Does your spouse / partner like rallying?

Yes

Any other hobbies?

Partying

Your opinions

Favourite food:

Curry

Favourite drink:

Lager

Favourite film star:

Demi Moore

Favourite holiday destination:

Hot

Which TV sports programmes do you watch?

Most

Starting out

How did you start out?

Spectating in the 70s

First driver you sat with: 

Steve Royal

First event:

Albemarle Barracks 1984

Rallying background

Type of licence held:

National A, can upgrade to International

Which motor club do you belong to?

Tynemouth and Dukeries

Do you contribute towards your rallying?

Yes

Have you ever driven on a rally?

Yes, I have driven since 1989

Did you ever marshal on events? When and where?

Yes, Otterburn, Kielder

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

5

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

15

Have you competed abroad? Where and when?

Yes, Holland 1988, 1989, 2004

Your opinions (rallying)

Favourite rally car:

6R4

Favourite bit of road or forest:

Otterburn

Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?

Not bothered

Things you dislike about rallying?

Time to get to most events

Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2005?

Sebastien Loeb

Rallying history

Drivers you have sat with:

Derek Belbin, Spiros Logothetis, John Stone, Alistair Sutherland, Simon Moore, Charles Hodge, Paul Irving, Robbie Dale

Best result:

2^nd with John Stone in 6R4
3^rd  O/A Gwynedd Rally 2004 in a 205

Worst result:

Last stage retirements on 3 events in 2004

Championships contested:

205 Challenge
205 1.9 Scholarship

Best Championship result:

205 1.9 Champion

Biggest accident:

Derek Belbin, on Otterburn, twice end over end then twice sideways

Your current performance

Your current driver(s) and events or Championships contested in 2005?

Doing both Peugeot 205 1.9 Scholarship with Dominic Hodge and  Peugeot 205 1.6 Challenge with Chris Bayliss

How could you improve your ‘own’ current performance?

Have more time to prepare things before events

How could you improve your current driver’s performance?

Improve his lines and get him to be on the limit from the Stage 1 start

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

Get a good spec RWD car

Your future in rallying

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

Australia or Barbados Rally Carnival

Ambition in rallying for the future:

Win as many events/ championships as possible

What would you like to put back into rallying?

I like to assist young blood, both drivers and co-drivers

The future of rallying

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

Tom Curtis, Alex  Evans

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

Read everything twice and know the blue book.

Date completed 22/2/05
Published 12/3/05