Profiles

Nigel (far left) with Rob, Craig and Paul Drew

Nigel Drew, from Ruspidge, is quite a late starter to this particular hobby and has only been rally driving since 2007.

"I've always followed rallying, especially in the Dean" says Nigel. "The Wyedean Rally is always a good local event and well presented by the Forest of Dean Motor Club.

"It's something that I've always followed and I just had the opportunity to get a car and have a go."

When he's not behind the wheel of his red Subaru Impreza (pictured above), Nigel earns a living (and a racing!) with his job in plant hire and ground works.

Advice

He bought the car himself so presumably has to have the knowledge to work on it as well?

"You learn that as you go along really. You pick up things and you talk to people and take advice. One thing that you need to do is take advice - that's one thing I have learned."

...but is it all worth it? Nigel certainly thinks so:

"It's superb! Absolute adrenalin rush. You get to the end of a stage and you're out of breath just through total adrenalin, it's superb."

Nigel Drew

Frightening

Sitting alongside Nigel in the co-driver seat is Dave Motterham, who has been rallying for over 25 years.

"I don't actually get to see the rally because I have my head down reading the pace notes and that's all you do," says Dave.

"Every now and again you do get to peep up but that's when it gets a bit frightening because you don't realise just how quick you're going."

Both driving and co-driving are equally hard but with different responsibilities, as Dave explains:

"He's got to rely and concentrate on what he's doing with the car and I've got to concentrate on giving him the information on what he needs to do with the car.

"He has more to do as I'm just reading the information to him but he has to take it in and translate it into what he's doing with his hands and his feet. You are trusting each other 100%."