Exclusive Interview with
Top British and World Rally Championship Co-Driver
 Nicky Grist

Nicky won 17 WRC events whilst co-driving for Colin McRae updated 22/1/03 (items marked **)

Personal
Name:	NICKY GRIST
Age:	** 41
Marital status:	Married
Children:	None
Occupation:	Co-driver
Place of birth:	Ebbw Vale
Country or county where you live:	Wales / U.K.
Does your spouse / partner like rallying?	Certainly, it would be difficult otherwise
Any other hobbies?	Cycling, golf, motorbikes
Your opinions
Favourite food:	Good pasta dishes and Oriental food
Favourite drink:	Water, Brunello de Montalcino (Red Wine)
Favourite motorsport paper / magazine:	Motoring News, Autosport
Favourite sports person (other than rallying):	Professional cyclists (there are too many to list, but they are true athletes)
Favourite film star:	None really
Favourite holiday destination:	Mauritius, California
Which TV sports programmes do you watch?	A lot of Eurosport for both rallying and cycling, Sky sports for golf, and the the odd bits of Grandstand
Starting out
How did you start out?	Watched a road rally after a party, took an interest, joined a local club and started shortly afterwards in road rallies.
First driver you sat with:	Bryn Wiltshire
First event:	** A road event starting near Chepstow - George Ford Pips Rally 1982
Rallying background
Type of licence held:	International Drivers
Which motor club do you belong to?	Abergavenny Auto Club
Do you contribute towards your rallying?	No
Have you ever driven on a rally?	** Yes, on 2 events
Did you ever marshal on events? When and where?	No
How many events do you get to watch? (eg. per year)	None
How many rallies do you take part in? (eg. per year)	14
Have you competed abroad? Where and when?	A few and everywhere
Your opinions  on rallying
Favourite rally car:	Toyota Celica GT4 (ST185)
Favourite rally driver:	Guess
Favourite rally co-driver:	Me
Favourite bit of road or forest:	Oninphoja Stage, Finland
Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?	Now pacenotes, but map reading was more satisfying
Things you dislike about rallying?	Crashing
Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2001?	After Argentina, I think Richard Burns is going to be difficult to beat.
... and in 2003?	** Gronholm - with option for Burns and C McRae
Rallying history
Drivers you have sat with:	Bryn Wiltshire, Keith Lewis, Julian Tod, Steve Davies, Peter Vaughn, Glyn Byard, Theo Bengry, Sam Middleton, Harry Hockley, Stuart Nicholls, Simon Davidson, Dave Metcalfe, Louise Aitken-Walker, Malcolm Wilson, Mikael Ericsson, Armin Schwarz, Juha Kankkunen, Colin McRae
Best driver you have ever sat with?	The last two of the drivers mentioned above
Championships contested:	Lots
Best Championship result:	1st and 2nd
Best rally memory:	Winning my first WRC event (Argentina 1993)
Strangest incident on a rally:	Cannot remember
Biggest accident:	Australia 1999, and Safari 1994 ** Corsica 01 and Rally GB 01
Achievements gained from rallying:	Turning my greatest hobby into my job
Your future in rallying
Ambition in rallying for the future:	Winning the World Championship
The future of rallying
Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend?	Petter Solberg
Which up-and-coming rally co-driver can you recommend?	Difficult to say
What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers?	Get out competing on as many events as possible, especially abroad.  Experience is what it is all about.
Any other comments	My web site address: www.nickygrist.com
updated 22/1/03 (items marked **)