Exclusive interview with top British co-driver, Phil Peak

Personal
Name:	Phil Peak
Age:	***30
Marital status:	***Engaged to Rachel
Children:	None
Occupation:	**Civil Engineer - Waterman Aspen
Place of birth:	Accrington, Lancashire
County where you live:	***Cheshire
Does your spouse / partner like rallying?	Rach tries to get to as many rallies as she can and enjoys the social aspect of the sport as much as spectating
Any other hobbies?	*** Mountain Biking, Badminton, Rock Climbing, Field Archery, Cooking
Your opinions
Favourite food:	** Roast duck with all the trimmings
Favourite drink:	*** Coniston Brewery Bluebird Bitter
Favourite motor sport paper / magazine:	** Pacenotes
Favourite sports person (other than rallying):	** Rossi
Favourite holiday destination:	Cornwall
Which TV sports programmes do you watch?	Superbikes, MotoGP, Rally Fever
Starting out
How did you start out?	Went along to help service for friends and after 2 years eventually got a chance to sit in the passenger seat
First driver you sat with:	Anthony Gunn
First event:	Roskirk Stages 20001
Rallying background
Type of licence held:	***National A Stage Rally, Upgrading to International for 2008
Which motor club do you belong to?	**Blackpool South Shore Motor Club
Do you contribute towards your rallying?	Usually my expenses and, dependent on the driver and timing of the event, put in towards entry fees, etc
Have you ever driven on a rally?	No - couldn't afford the repairs bills I'd generate
Did you ever marshal on events? When and where?	Yes - ANWCC events and I used to go up for the Jim Clark
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)	** 14+
Have you competed abroad? Where and when?	**Ireland and Belgium
Your opinions (rallying)
Favourite rally car:	***Maxi Megane
Favourite rally driver:	***The late great Colin McRae
Favourite rally co-driver:	***Howard Davies - not many people these days with as much obvious enthuiasm and character
Favourite bit of road or forest:	Tarmac: Mishnish Locks (Mull) or New Road (Epynt) Gravel: **Stages on the Pirelli in Kielder
Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?	Prefer notes but have really enjoyed the events Ive done on maps as they give a different sort of satisfaction
Things you dislike about rallying?	* Retirements, accidents
Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2004?	Loeb
... and in 2005?	* tricky one this year! I said Loeb last year so will try Martin
... and in 2006?	** Loeb
... and in 2007?	** Loeb
... and in 2008?	*** Loeb
Rallying history
Drivers you have sat with:	Anthony Gunn, Paul Gunn, Chris Melling, Nick West, Jim Brown, Mick Taylor, Simon Taft, Owain Beman, Dave Price, * Luke Pinder, Chris Reid, Wayne Wells, Nigel Dutson, Gino Cook Lyndon Barton, Richard Banks, Steve Simpson, Richard Allingham, Stephen Taylor, Nick Wiidman, Nick Tidboald, Simon Hunter * Jim Ward, Kim Baker, Tim Phillpott, Roy Taylor, Chris Marshall
Best driver you have ever sat with?	** Lyndon Barton and Steve Simpson were both excellent opportunites with huge experience. Chris Reid is still lightning quick and is developing into a well-rounded driver although still struggles with budget - could turn heads if he gets a break
Best result:	*2007 Promenade Stages 9th O/A 2006 Baja GB 8th O/A *2006 Pirelli Trophy - 9th O/A, 2nd 2WD, 2nd Class 2006 Matador Welsh, Epynt - 10th O/A, 1st Grp N 2006 Tour of Cornwall - 17th O/A, 2nd Grp N 2006 North West Stages - 7th O/A, 1st Grp N 2005 Weeton Stages - 1st O/A 2005 Promenade Stages - 6th O/A 2005 Monteburg Rallysprint - 10th O/A 2005 Matador Welsh, Epynt - 7th O/A 2004 Red Kite - 9th O/A 2004 Welsh Endurance - 4th O/A, 2nd Class
Worst result:	** 2005 Tour of Epynt, had the opportunity to sit with Lyndon Barton in his 1999 Impreza WRC, pulled up at the end of SS2 with a sick gearbox
Championships contested:	** ANWCC 2005
Best Championship result:	** Class Award in 2005 ANWCC with Richard Banks
Best rally memory:	Finishing 2001 Philips Tour of Mull - (my 2^nd ever stage rally) * Scottish Hill Rally 2004 - first taste of off-road events ** Tackling Epynt and Monteburg with Lyndon Barton in his full Group A Subaru Impreza 555
Strangest incident on a rally:	-
Biggest accident:	* 80 mph crash lasting for 100m on the 2004 Astra Stages with Simon Taft
Achievements gained from rallying:	Increased self-confidence and gained some good friends
Your current performance
Your current drivers and events or Championships contested in 2003	Mick Taylor - Witch Way Jim Brown - Enville Stages, Ravens Rock, Mewla Nick West - Welsh Endurance Rally Simon Taft - Swansea Bay, De Lacey Forest Stages, Grizedale Stages Paul Gunn - Philips Tour of Mull
... and in 2004?	* Peugeot TOTAL 206 Super Cup - Simon Taft Red Kite Stages - Owain Beman Tour of Epynt - Dave Price Welsh International Historics - Nigel Dutson 205 Scholarship rounds - Chris Reid Pendragon - Luke Pinder Hill Rallies - Wayne Wells Mull - Paul Redford Premier - Tom Walster Grizedale - Gino Cook
... and in 2005?	** Riponian - Luke Pinder North West Stages - Lyndon Barton Matador Welsh Tarmac - Lyndon Barton Monteburg Rallysprint - Lyndon Barton Promenade Stages - Lyndon Barton Tour of Epynt - Lyndon Barton Roskirk Stages - Richard Banks Pro Care Stages - Richard Banks Enville Stages - Richard Banks Browns Weeton Stages - Richard Banks Pennine Stages - Richard Banks Weeton Stages - Richard Banks Grizedale Stages - Richard Allingham
... and in 2006?	Jack Frost Stages - Stephen Taylor Tour of Epynt - Stephen Taylor North West Stages - Stephen Taylor Tour of Cornwall - Stephen Taylor Matador Welsh Tarmac - Stephen Taylor Pirelli Trophy Rally - Chris Reid Smatmole Weeton Stages - Nick Woodman Scottish Hill Rally - Nick Tidboald Harry Flatters - Simon Hunter Planned : Baja GB - Nick Tidboald, Weeton Stages - Richard Banks *Smatmole Weeton Stages - Nick Woodman Scottish Hill Rally, Baja GB - Nick Tidboald Harry Flatters - Simon Hunter Weeton Stages, Keith Wood Memorial - Richard Banks Premier Stages, Galloway Hiils - Nick West Borders Hill Rally - Tim Philpott
... and in 2007?	*** North West Stages, Pro-Care - Richard Banks Granite City - Chris Reid Marches Hill Rally - Roy Taylor Promenade Stages - Stephen Taylor Tour of Mull - Kim Baker Malton Forest Stages - Jim Ward
How could you improve your own current performance?	** Try and get as much experience as possible and enjoy everything I tackle
How could you improve your current driver's performance?	Make his life before and on events as easy as possible, produce accurate paperwork and take on the role of team co-ordinator
If you had £50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do?	***Co-drive on Japan WRC and FIA Baja events
Your future in rallying
Where would you most like to compete (in the world):	Scandinavia
Which rally would you most like to compete in?	***Rally Japan West Cork, Jim Clark
Which driver(s) would you most like to co-drive for?	**One of the OAPs from Scandinavia - Hannu, Juha or Ari
Ambition in rallying for the future:	**Continue to develop as a co-driver. I've still a lot to learn.
What would you like to put back into rallying?	Passing on advice that Ive been given to help anyone wanting to start co-driving
The future of rallying
Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend?	*** Chris Reid
Which up-and-coming rally co-driver can you recommend?	***
What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers?	Find someone experienced who you can ring and pester before, during and after events. Books are great but the best way to learn what co-driving is all about is to ask questions (No matter how daft they sound - ASK!)
Any other comments?	** I would like to thank my partner Rach for her support and patience with my chosen sport.

updated 12/1/05 (items marked ) updated 20/8/06 (items marked ) updated 7/12/07 (items marked **)