In a step to further his international career, New Zealander Patrick Malley will contest both the 2 wheel drive 2009 British Rally Championship and the 2009 Kick Energy Fiesta Sporting Trophy, starting with the second round of the series, the Bulldog International Rally North Wales this weekend.
Malley will be one of 19 FST competitors contesting the 49th running of the event based in Northern Wales whose winners list reads like a who's who of rallying.
The 25 year old previously competed in the APRC and in the United Kingdom, contesting the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International Shootout at the end of last season where he secured a very creditable top six result. That result was on the back of taking victory in the 2008 Group N 2 Wheel Drive New Zealand Rally Championship and 2008 New Zealand Fiesta Sporting Trophy series.
Like many Kiwis before him in both rallying and circuit racing, Malley is heading overseas to take his rally career to new heights with the hope of emulating the success of the late great Possum Bourne. Malley’s attack on the British Championship is historic because it will be a first for a current NZ champion.
After the Bulldog, Malley, co-driver Malcolm Read, and the other UK crews will contest the Pirelli International Rally (England, 17/18 April), the Scottish Rally (27 June), the infamous Isle of Man rally (10/11 July), the Ulster Rally (Ireland, 21-23 August) before finishing up with the National Trackrod Rally (England, 26 September).
But first Malley and Read will get off the plane from the UK to start their defence of the Group N title in New Zealand in the first round of the NZRC in Hawke’s Bay April 4 and 5.
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