North Wales: Gordon Nichol preview

Nichol returns to BRC for a second shot at the Suzuki's

St Bothwell based Gordon Nichol is set to return to the British Rally Championship supporting class, the Suzuki Challenge, in 2009 and has his sights set on a concerted title challenge despite the perennially cash strapped Scotsman currently only having the budget for part of the season.

Gordon began the 2008 season on a high note by taking the win on the opening round, but then a combination of bad luck and a shortage of funds saw him loose out by the narrowest of margins, eventually finishing second in the Suzuki Challenge and second in Class R1. The highlight of the second half of the year was taking a class win on Wales Rally GB in December, a challenge made tougher by the fact that Gogsie was made redundant in the weeks leading up to the event!

For 2009 Gordon will continue to be supported by Cooks Car and Van Hire, and welcomes on board Sunwise Sunglasses, Airbrush Perfections and PIAA lights. Thirty year old Gordon will again be co-driven by Emma Morrison in his Suzuki Swift 1600.

We're back. Last year was a real challenge for us, but we loved the series and with the lessons learnt in 2008 I'm confident that we are up to the task ahead. We currently have no title sponsor and the year will be very much a rally by rally situation but I'm still as determined as ever!

Gordon and Emma will begin their title attack on the Bulldog International Rally of Wales which takes place on the 28th of March. This event, which is new to the British Rally Championship, starts from Llangollen and uses some of the finest forest stages in the country.

The 2009 Suzuki Challenge will again benefit from being part of the British Rally championship and as such will be included in the media package offered by the organisers. This includes extensive T.V coverage on Sky Sports as well as widespread radio, printed and electronic coverage of each of the six rallies that make up the challenge.

-credit: gn