Mixed Results on the Pirelli International Rally

There were mixed fortunes for the HotSeat Motorsport team at the Pirelli International Rally on 13th and 14th May. Kate Heath was facing her first rally in six months and a planned test session fell through. Feeling very rusty, she knew that she had a tough task ahead of her.

Kate was also getting know a different co-driver. Simon Mills, a very experienced and successful competitor, agreed to take Paul's seat on the Pirelli International Rally. Paul is serving with the Royal Air Force in Baghdad until late June. Luckily the temporary partnership worked well, with Kate and Simon finishing 26th overall and achieving Kate's best ever finish in Kielder Forest.

Unfortunately the Pirelli Stars rally did not go as well for HotSeat team-mates Glenda Boyle and Simon Taylor. After a frustrating puncture on the first stage, the pair crashed out on stage 2. Their exit from the rally was a high-speed accident which Simon Taylor described as "scary". Glenda's rapid 106 left the road on a fast bend at almost 70mph, but fortunately came to rest safely with very little damage.

The crew themselves suffered nothing worse than dented pride, but faced a long wait to be recovered from the stage. They had a great opportunity to spectate though, watching 7 former British Rally Champions fly through the forest. Glenda took some solace from the fact that former Britsh Rally Champion David Higgins almost went off on the same corner!

Glenda Boyle joins HotSeat Rally team

21-year-old student, Glenda Boyle from Knightsbridge in Derry will join HotSeat Motorsport for the year, having won the 2005 Women in the HotSeat competition. A virtual novice who had only competed in one rally before, Glenda's outstanding driving talent was enough to win a rally car and a supported season with the team.

The prestigious Women in the HotSeat is organised by Kate Heath with the aim of finding and supporting talented female drivers. Kate says, "I got sick of complaining that there were too few women in rallying, and I decided to do something about it!" Glenda drove faultlessly throughout all three rounds of the competition, which took place at Newark in Nottinghamshire.

During the final round of the challenge Glenda impressed a panel of distinguished judges, including double British Ladies' Rally Champion Lorna Smith and former British Rally Champion and World Production Rally Champion Martin Rowe. They commented on the young Derry girl's calmness under pressure and her natural flair for driving both front wheel drive and four wheel drive rally cars. Glenda also performed well in other challenges including a TV interview, a sponsorship presentation and an assessment of her driving skills on the road.

Glenda has won a sporty Peugeot 106 Rallye, fully prepared to competition level, which is hers to keep. She will be competing in the 2006 British Rally Championship Stars of the Future series. Kate Heath said, "This is an opportunity for Glenda to learn and gain experience in the sport. She has loads of natural talent and I'm sure she will go on to achieve excellent results in the future. I'm glad we found such a worthy winner for the prize." Kate will presented Glenda with the keys to her rally car on the British Rally Championship stage at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham on Thursday, 12th January.

The 2006 Women in the HotSeat Rally Challenge is open to novice competitors and drivers with no previous rally experience. For more information visit Women in the HotSeat

Women in the HotSeat Rally Challenge

Women with a driving ambition now have the best ever opportunity to get started in the exciting sport of rallying, as HotSeat Motorsport is offering female drivers the chance of a lifetime with the Women in the HotSeat Rally Challenge. Apart from a driving licence, no previous experience is needed. The highest scoring driver in the competition will win a rally car.

After achieving success in the male dominated sport of rallying, Kate Heath is determined to jump-start the career of a potential new female champion. "There are plenty of men in the sport already," says Kate, "so I really want to give this opportunity to a talented woman driver. It's time we evened the score a bit!"

Kate and the Women in the HotSeat team intend to make sure that the winning driver they discover has the best possible start in the sport. As well as a competition prepared rally car, the prize will also include an intensive programme of rallies with full team support. If all goes according to plan the winner will end their debut season driving in a round of the prestigious British Rally Championship.

"I'm sure we'll find a really gifted driver for this fantastic prize," said Kate. "I know there are lots of women who are longing to give rallying a try. I intend to make sure that everyone who takes part in Women in the HotSeat has a really fantastic time learning new driving skills."

The competition will take place at Newark Showground, less than a mile from the A1 in Nottinghamshire. Competitors will drive sporty Peugeot 205 rally cars around a purpose-built rally stage on their Women in the HotSeat Rally Challenge day.

For more information about the competition, including terms and conditions, please click here.