Exclusive Interview with Top British Co-driver Neil Shanks

Personal
Name:	Neil Shanks
Age:	* 26
Marital status:	Single
Children:	None
Occupation:	Draughtsman
Place of birth:	Elgin, Scotland
Country or county where you live:	Moray, Scotland
Any other hobbies?	Golf, Football
Your opinions
Favourite food:	Steak
Favourite drink:	* Vodka and lemonade
Favourite motorsport paper / magazine:	* Motorsport News
Favourite sports person (other than rallying):	* Many that you have to admire for their ability to stay at the top for so long, Stephen Hendry, Steve Redgrave, Phil Taylor, etc
Favourite film star:	* Anything with Adam Sandler in it has to be good for a laugh
Favourite holiday destination:	Catalunya for the rally is brilliant
Which TV sports programmes do you watch?	Always watch WRC on C4/Eurosport, watch whatever is on though!
Starting out
How did you start out?	Navigational events – 63 Car Club (Elgin) Father used to compete locally so started early
First driver you sat with:	Norman McLaughlin
First event:	Milltown Stages – 1995
Rallying background
Type of licence held:	International
Which motor club do you belong to?	63 Car Club (Elgin) Ltd
Do you contribute towards your rallying?	Always have done in a few different ways
Have you ever driven on a rally?	No – don’t think I’d be any good – more of a danger!!
Did you ever marshal on events? When and where?	* I have been Clerk of the Course on the Little the Jewellers Speyside Stages for the past 5 years, twice voted best event in the SRC. Stepping down in 2004 to compete in the event for the first time
How many events do you get to watch? (e.g. per year)	* 3 or 4, occasionally WRC events abroad
How many rallies do you take part in? (e.g. per year)	15-20
Have you competed abroad? Where and when?	* Mountain Rally Norway 2004 - Great experience
Your opinions (rallying)
Favourite rally car:	Focus WRC
Favourite rally driver:	Colin McRae
Favourite rally co-driver:	Derek Ringer
Favourite bit of road or forest:	* Road - Druidale, to compete over it after seeing it on TV do many times was a real buzz. Forest - Glengap or Errochty
Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?	Enjoy the challenge on maps, although never done that many stage events on them. When the Notes are working well I feel that I have more input
Things you dislike about rallying?	Lack of mainstream coverage the sport receives in Britain, one of the sports we have with a history of producing world beaters but makes little difference, although things are getting better.
Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2003?	I’d like to say Colin, but I think Gronholm will take some stopping
... and in 2004?	* It will go right to the wire between Martin, Loeb & Gronholm. Think that Martin will take it though.
Rallying history
Drivers you have sat with:	Norman McLaughlin, Neil Winton, Charlie Jarrett, Bob Wilson, Bruce McCombie, Dave Weston, Niki Cleland, Innes Clark, Dennis Biggerstaff * Barry Clark, Neale Dougan
Best driver you have ever sat with?	* Barry Clark & Dave Weston
Best result:	1st overall 2001 Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally
Worst result:	* 2003 Manx International. After a steady start we were setting competitive stage times until power steering packed in and sent us off into a bank finishing our event. That was an event we could have taken first in S16.
Championships contested:	Scottish RC Ford Ka * BRC
Best Championship result:	1st 1300cc SRC 1999 1st 1600cc SRC 2000
Best rally memory:	Crossing the line on the last stage to win the 2001 Scottish
Strangest incident on a rally:	First-ever forest event 97 Snowman. Car wouldn’t run on way to SS1, used up our 30 mins lateness getting there. 5,4,3,2,1,GO…., got about 50 yards and rally over – fault was a 50p fuse in the 24V start system.
Biggest accident:	Not really had a big off yet, few minor ones and even more close shaves, sure it will happen yet though!
Achievements gained from rallying:	Met a lot of great people, saw a lot of great places, heard even more good stories – not all of them repeatable!!
Your current performance
Your current driver(s) and events or Championships being contested in 2003	BRC Super 1600 – Barry Clark – Ford Junior Team Puma Selected events – Dave Weston – Gp A Mitsubishi Lancer E6
... and in 2004?	* BRC Super 1600 - Barry Clark -Team Birkbeck Rallysport Puma SRC - Dave Weston - Ford Escort WRC
How could you improve your ‘own’ current performance?	Get fitter (I am working on it – should try harder, though) Contest more events
How could you improve your current driver’s performance?	Probably just time in the car testing and more events - the more mileage the better
If you had £50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do?	Plough it into combining this year’s BRC with as many JWRC events as possible, and also get him more 4WD experience
Your future in rallying
Where would you most like to compete (in the world):	Australia or New Zealand
Which rally would you most like to compete in?	Rally New Zealand
Which driver(s) would you most like to co-drive for?	Has to be Colin, but also Loeb or Panizzi on a tarmac rally
Ambition in rallying for the future:	To get into JWRC after doing well in the BRC with Barry and then onto a works WRC drive. Isn’t that what most of us want in an ideal world?
What would you like to put back into rallying?	Try to set up some sort of scheme where young navigators can get the chance to sit beside quicker drivers in quicker cars - the only way to keep learning is by continuing to go up a level
The future of rallying
Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend?	Barry Clark * Last year was a tough first season in the BRC but I think the Pirelli reminded a few people what he is capable off.
Which up-and-coming rally co-driver can you recommend?	Me, hopefully
What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers?	Always read all pre-event information thoroughly, and go to each event as well prepared as you can be. Don’t be afraid to ask advice from those with more experience and continue to pick up tips from those around you. We are learning all the time – every day is a school day.
Any other comments	Thanks to Kim and all at rallycodriver for their work on the site
posted 1/2/03 Updated 17/6/04 (items marked *)
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