Profiles

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

Rob Drew, from Bream, has loved rally driving for many years, whether watching it on the television or spectating every year at the Wyedean Rally, just up the road for him in the Forest of Dean.

"I've been spectating since I was a teenager, even before then really, but never been able to afford to do it until recently.

"Then the boys got into it, through my tuition and taking them out to watch it and it has gone on from there really.

Paul was born, followed two years later by brother Craig and now thanks to their Dad's passion, rally driving has become a family affair.

"We run completely on a shoestring. Craig's really lucky because it doesn't cost him a lot to do his rally's whereas Paul and I just have to go 50/50 - although I said that with tongue in cheek...it's more 70/30 perhaps."

Rob even jokes about having to extend the garage recently, which cost more than he was expecting, as he was getting tired of repairing the car out in the cold.

"We get a little bit of sponsorship, like a mate with a van and stuff like that, but that's it."

But it's a hobby for Rob that he loves to bits, especially now he has both sons and his brother Nigel involved as well.

Rob Drew

Too fast

Craig is forging his own career as a co-driver, Nigel is able to run his own car which leaves Rob and Paul fighting for the wheel of their shared Mark II Escort:

"We take it in turns" says Rob. "I navigate for Paul and Paul navigates for me.

"I don't drive fast enough for Paul but Paul drives too fast for me. He doesn't listen to me and I try not to listen to what he tells me as well.

"We've been racing together for three years. He couldn't afford to carry on so this was a way of helping him out really- buying a car between us and sharing it."

For the Wyedean Rally 2009, Rob was the co-driver for son Paul in their Mark II Escort.