Member Article

Businessman's driving ambition

A young rally driver is being backed by a North East car dealership for the first stage on his quest to become a World Rally champion. Phil Liddle, 26, has been racing 125cc Karts since the age of 17, but is now getting ready to compete in the Ford-sponsored Fiesta Sporting Trophy.

Phil is currently building and modifying a Fiesta ST 150, 165 BHP, to tackle the 6 demanding rounds of the championship in 2007. The prize for the winner of the series is a contract as a test driver for the official Ford World Rally Team. Patterson Ford has helped the Ponteland businessman by providing the car’s shell and parts at a heavily discounted price to give him a boost on his fledgling career as a part-time rally driver. In preparation for the Fiesta Sporting Trophy, Phil will compete in the Christmas Stages rally at Croft racing circuit near Darlington at the end of December.

Phil said: “Without the help of Patterson Ford it would have cost me a lot more in terms of time and money to get the car in perfect racing order and I would like to thank them for their generosity. I am very ambitious and would like to be competing professionally within three years and, one day, become World Rally Champion.”

Ashley Winter, managing director at Patterson, said: “Phil is a determined and enthusiastic young man who I hope achieves his ultimate dream. As someone who raced Karts for many years, I know just how dedicated one has to be to succeed and make the step up to rallying in what is a very competitive sport. Everyone at our firm wishes him the very best of luck and we will all follow his career with great interest.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .